Thomas Frank Slams Referee Decision as Newcastle Scores During Djed Spence’s Shoe-Tying Moment
In a recent Carabao Cup match, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank expressed his frustration over a contentious referee decision. This occurred during Newcastle’s 2-0 win, where Spurs defender Djed Spence faced an unusual interruption while tying his shoelaces.
Match Overview
The fourth-round clash took place at St James’ Park, gathering a crowd of 51,216 fans. Newcastle emerged victorious with goals from Fabian Schar and Nick Woltemade, progressing closer to Wembley.
Controversial Goal
- First Goal: Schar scored in the 24th minute after Spence was momentarily distracted due to his boot coming off.
- Decision Issue: The referee, Chris Kavanagh, did not pause the game, allowing Newcastle to take a quick corner.
As Spence was adjusting his laces, Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali took the corner, delivering the ball quickly to Schar who headed it into the net. This incident sparked anger among the Spurs players and coaching staff.
Thomas Frank’s Reaction
Post-match, Frank discussed the incident with Kavanagh. He stated that small margins influenced the outcome of the game. “It is always disappointing to lose, and the two goals involved specific mistakes,” Frank remarked during an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.
Upcoming Matches
Newcastle will now advance to face Fulham in the quarter-finals. Other notable matches include:
- Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace
- Cardiff City vs. Chelsea
- Manchester City vs. Brentford
The quarter-final matches are set to take place during the week of December 15. In another notable match, Crystal Palace eliminated Liverpool with a convincing 3-0 victory.
