Premier League Match Centre issue statement as Xavi Simons sent off after horror tackle

Xavi Simons was sent off for serious foul play after a horror challenge on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. With the score at 0-0, the Tottenham winger was given a yellow card after fouling Van Dijk.

However, referee John Brooks was advised by officials at Stockley Park to re-check the incident and subsequently upgraded the punishment to a straight red card. A statement from the Premier League Match Centre reads: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of yellow card to Simons and issued a red card for serious foul play.

"Referee announcement: 'After review, the Tottenham No.7, with studs, catches the Liverpool player [No.4] on the calf high - it's an act of serious foul play. My final decision is red card'.

Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville issued a scathing review of the incident, saying: "That wasn't clever. He was never going to get there. He rakes his studs right down Van Dijk. It's a poor, poor challenge.

"He is absolutely nowhere near the football. Malicious, nasty, reckless? Whatever you want to call it. Stupidity.

"I can see why it's being checked. It's a ridiculous challenge. Virgil van Dijk is six foot four and 15 stone. If it is the other way around, it's a leg breaker.

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"Thomas Frank is having a whinge about it, but none of the Tottenham players are complaining. The ones who have seen it are going 'what are you doing?'"

Ex-Spurs midfielder Andy Reid, who was covering the game for BBC Radio 5 Live, added: "It's a difficult one, by the letter of the law its down the back of Virgil van Dijk's Achilles with his studs. It's a silly one from Xavi Simons."

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