The former head of referees promptly shared his view on Daniel Svensson’s red card in the Tottenham match, and he also referenced the Diogo Dalot incident.

Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett believes referee Glenn Nyberg was right to send off Daniel Svensson during Tottenham’s victory over Borussia Dortmund. Hackett told Football Insider that the Dortmund defender deserved a red card for his studs-up challenge on Wilson Odobert. The decision came soon after Diogo Dalot avoided a red card in Manchester City’s match, a comparison that has sparked debate. Former Spurs defender Michael Dawson added that while Svensson’s challenge was not as severe, it still merited dismissal.

The win on January 20 was vital for Thomas Frank amid mounting pressure at Tottenham, and the manager would have been relieved when Dortmund was reduced to ten men. Spurs had already taken the lead through Cristian Romero and then doubled their advantage with a Dominic Solanke goal before halftime.

Svensson was initially shown a yellow card for the late tackle, but VAR quickly intervened and upgraded it to a red, much to the disappointment of the traveling Dortmund supporters. Hackett praised the officials, saying the laws were applied correctly and that the tackle constituted serious foul play deserving of a red card.

Hackett, who has frequently criticised Premier League refereeing and VAR this season, welcomed the clear and decisive officiating in European competition. The contrast has intensified discussions about Dalot’s incident, especially after Howard Webb defended the decision not to send him off, citing differences between English and European officiating standards. Dawson argued that once VAR reviewed the challenge, a red card was unavoidable, noting that slow-motion replays showed a high and dangerous tackle. He stressed that regardless of intent, any action that endangers an opponent warrants a red card.

Although he viewed Svensson’s tackle as less dangerous than Dalot’s, he still believed it deserved punishment.

Fans are now calling for more consistent officiating, with many feeling European competitions offer clearer decisions than the Premier League, where recent explanations from officials have done little to restore confidence.

Hackett was quick to share his thoughts on Svensson’s red card, while also referencing the Dalot incident.