Micky Van de Ven has voiced his disagreement with the FA’s decision to charge Tottenham following the heated exchange that led to Mohammed Kudus being sent off during the London Derby against West Ham.
Altercation Between Spurs and West Ham Players:
The match had largely been played in good spirits, but tempers flared in the closing stages after a challenge involving Van de Ven and Kudus. The Dutch defender cleanly won the ball but took exception to Kudus, who appeared to follow through with a cynical kick.
A heated confrontation ensued, with players from both sides engaging in pushing and shoving. The situation escalated further when replays showed that Kudus had raised his hand, striking both Van de Ven and Pape Sarr in the face. VAR intervened, leading to Kudus receiving a red card for violent conduct.
Van de Ven Explains His Side of the Incident
On Wednesday, the FA announced that Tottenham had been charged with “failing to ensure their players didn’t behave in an improper and/or provocative manner” and handed a £20,000 fine for their involvement in the scuffle. However, Van de Ven was quick to challenge the FA’s interpretation of events.
Speaking to Football.London, the Dutchman said: “What I can remember is that I had a duel with Kudus, and I fell down on the ground. I felt that he kicked through too much on the ball.
“He tried to kick the ball, but he hit me twice, maybe three times. Obviously, I was a bit mad at that moment, so I stood up and pushed him, and then the situation escalated on his side.
“He literally punched me in the face as I went down! Honestly, I don’t know what happened after that, I didn’t really see it. But that’s how I experienced the situation. The FA says we need to be fined for this, but that’s not how I see it. If it were up to me, it would be a different outcome.”
Did Spurs Players Act Improperly?
A review of the incident shows that the Spurs players showed remarkable restraint, even as Kudus struck two of them in the face. Kudus appeared to lose control, while the Tottenham players were only trying to defend their teammates.
Van de Ven did push Kudus following the Ghanaian’s kicks, an action for which he received a yellow card. However, the FA’s decision to penalise Spurs as a whole has left the Dutchman and many fans questioning what more the players could have done in such circumstances.