Lampard lambasts mentor Mourinho
Questioning Rudiger’s integrity ‘disappointing’
LONDON: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard spoke up for his player Antonio Rudiger yesterday after the defender was criticised by Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho for his part in the sending off of Son Heung-Min in the Blues’ 2-0 derby win on Sunday.
Son kicked out in retaliation at Rudiger as they challenged for the ball, and referee Anthony Taylor produced a straight red after a VAR review, leaving Spurs with 10 men for the last half hour.
Mourinho had taken a dig at Rudiger, who was allegedly racially abused after the incident, for going down too easily, telling him to “stand up and play,” but Lampard said the red card was the correct decision.
“With Toni and this incident, when he’s having to post after the game about something that we know is a huge deal, I think to question his integrity in that time is disappointing,” Lampard, who played under Mourinho at Chelsea, told reporters ahead of tomorrow’s game against Southampton.
“What I heard on the commentary and post-match reflection is that the Son incident was a red card. It wasn’t a brutal red card but it was an instinctive one that warrants a red card in the modern day.
“I wouldn’t question Toni’s integrity on that.”
Rudiger had urged Tottenham on Twitter to find and punish the individuals who allegedly directed racist abuse at him during the match, and the club confirmed they were investigating the incident with the help of CCTV footage.
Germany’s Rudiger complained of hearing monkey noises from spectators.
“I saw Toni’s social media post, I thought it was well put, from the heart and something he obviously feels very strongly about,” Lampard added. “I would like to think that the players know I’m with them on anything like this.”
The latest racism row engulfing English football took a turn on Monday amid reports Tottenham’s Son was also racially abused by spectators during Sunday’s match.
A report on the website of Britain’s Guardian newspaper said a Chelsea supporter had been arrested for racially abusing Son.
London’s Metropolitan Police told AFP an arrest concerning a possible racially aggravated public order offence, without specifying if the person in question was a supporter of either club.
A force spokesman added: “Police were made aware of alleged racist chanting during the second half of the Tottenham vs Chelsea match on Sunday, 22 December.
“Officers will work with the club in an attempt to identify any people responsible.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham said their initial inquiries had failed to find a culprit despite “many hours” reviewing images from stadium video cameras and having professional lip-readers study the footage.
Tottenham insisted any fan found guilty would receive a lifetime ban, but stressed: “At this time, however, we should point out that our findings are inconclusive”.
After the match, Rudiger tweeted: “It’s just such a shame that racism still exists in 2019. When will this nonsense stop?”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said yesterday he would back his players if they ever found themselves compelled to walk off during a game in protest against racist abuse. “Of course. I support my players,” Guardiola said.
Meanwhile, Fifa has banned Bahrain defender Sayed Baqer for 10 matches for ‘discriminatory behaviour’ in a World Cup qualifier against Hong Kong.
Baqer, 25, was captured on video making a slant-eyed gesture in the direction of Hong Kong supporters after a goalless draw in the city on Nov 14.