adminSunderland vs Tottenham: Keith Hackett wants retrospective action amid ‘cheating’ suggestion
Sunderland Hand De Zerbi a Painful Premier League Debut as Spurs’ Winless Run Deepens
Sunderland beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on Sunday, making Roberto De Zerbi’s first match in charge another miserable chapter in Spurs’ season. Nordi Mukiele’s deflected strike just past the hour mark settled the contest at the Stadium of Light.
Tottenham remain winless in 2026 and now sit two points adrift of safety with only six games left to play. While De Zerbi may have spotted a few encouraging signs, the result was yet another disappointment.
After the match, former FIFA referee Keith Hackett spoke exclusively to Tottenham News, voicing his concerns over what he sees as deceptive tactics from players on both sides.
Hackett Accuses Players of Trying to Fool Referee Rob Jones
Spurs had a first-half penalty overturned after Randal Kolo Muani appeared to be brought down by Omar Alderete and Luke O’Nien. Referee Rob Jones initially pointed to the spot but reversed his decision following a VAR review at the pitchside monitor—a pivotal moment, as Mukiele later scored the game’s only goal.
Jones faced several tough calls, some going against Tottenham, but neither side made his job easy. Players from both teams frequently went down softly in hopes of winning free-kicks or penalties.
Hackett, a former head of the PGMOL, argued that those trying to con the officials should face consequences.
“The authorities must act to stop the rising number of simulation incidents designed to deceive the referee,” he said. “Players are going to ground far too easily to win free-kicks or penalties. It’s a real problem for officials and it harms the Premier League’s image.
“The referee makes honest judgments based on one view. But when a player clearly tries to deceive the referee and the official waves play on, the game should be stopped and a yellow card shown. Alternatively, all games should be reviewed the next day, and retrospective action taken where simulation is spotted.”
Tottenham’s Winless Streak Nears Historic Lows
Spurs have now gone 14 Premier League matches without a win—a staggering run for a club that fancies itself among the elite. It marks their second-longest league winless streak in club history, behind only a 16-match stretch between December 1934 and April 1935.
If it wasn’t already, next weekend’s home clash against Brighton is now a must-win.
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