Former Premier League referee Peter Walton has hit out at the decision to not punish Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue for a rash challenge on Japhet Tanganga in the 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road this afternoon.
Capoue caught Tanganga on the knee with his studs in the first half but referee Michael Oliver didn't even book the 31-year-old.
It has led to a negative reaction on social media from Tottenham fans and now Walton has provided his verdict.
Whilst Walton agrees that the decision was wrong, he insists it was not a red card and shouldn't have been looked at by VAR.
"Well, it was completely missed by Michael Oliver and if you look at his position in midfield, he was looking through a number of players," Walton told BT Sport.
"He doesn't see what we can see from the sideview and clearly Etienne Capoue catches him and it's reckless. I think that should have been a yellow card due to the reckless nature of it.
"Maybe his assistant down the line could have helped him out with a better angle but maybe he was looking infield for another offence.
"We can't look at VAR for every potential yellow card or else we would have even more stoppages in play."
Capoue finally received a yellow card later in the first half when he committed a lunging tackle.
Walton added: "It was a thoroughly deserved yellow card. You can see that he lunges in there. He stopped a promising attack. We could argue that had he received a yellow card earlier he wouldn't have acted in that manner but I think he's very fortunate to stay on the field. I think they are two yellow cards."
Meanwhile, Tottenham almost conceded in the second half after Jan Vertonghen was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty box, with Paulo Gazzaniga saving Troy Deeney's spot-kick. There were no qualms over the clear-cut call on that occasion.
