JURRIEN TIMBER should have been sent off against Tottenham as fans claim the referee “bottled” showing him a red card.
The defender featured in his first North London Derby and sparked a melee with a tackle in the first half.
He went into a 50-50 challenge with Pedro Porro and the Spurs defender came off second best.
Timber caught him on the ankle after he went over the ball with his studs, which referee Jarred Gillett deemed a yellow card.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believes the Arsenal star was “lucky” to escape a red card, claiming other refs would have sent him off.
He said: “It’s an unusual action because he does definitely go over the top of the ball. He rolls his foot, it’s an unusual action you would usually come in with a side foot to make a challenge like this.
“He is very very lucky. Has he gone in with excessive force to do him like in the olden days? No.
“He has given the referee a massive decision to make. I think he’s incredibly lucky because other referees might have sent him off.
“He doesn’t need to go in like that, it’s such a strange one. Has he caught him badly? No, but it’s not the point.
“It’s excessive force, I think he’s lucky.”
Some fans agreed with Redknapp while others argued Timber should have picked up a second booking for his coming together with Tottenham keeper Gugliemo Vicario.
He grabbed the Italian by the shirt in an aggressive coming together yet only Vicario was yellow carded.
Supporters claim the ref bottled the double booking for Timber, suggesting he was fortunate to stay on the pitch.
One fan said: “Timber didn’t get a red card for all these btw. Pure robbery.”
Another added: “Bad tackle, yellow. Grab a player’s shirt, 2nd yellow. But only player booked was Vicario. If you book one, you give the 2nd yellow to Timber. Ref bottled it. Pure and simple.”
A third wrote: “If Vicario is booked (and he should be), Timber should get a second yellow.”
