REVEALED: Harry Kane’s goal against Olympiacos following quick-thinking work of ball-boy should NOT have stood after Serge Aurier’s foul-throw… so why didn’t VAR intervene?
- Harry Kane benefited from quick thing from a ball boy to bring Tottenham level
- But the goal should not have stood due to Serge Aurier’s role in the goal
- The Ivorian stepped over the line from the throw-in that led to the goal
- Aurier has a history of failing to stick to the rules from throw-ins
A helping hand from an alert ball boy saw Tottenham draw level early in the second half in their 4-2 win over Olympiacos – but replays have suggested that Harry Kane’s first goal of the night should not have stood.
After the ball had been kicked out by Olympiacos following a challenge on Lucas Moura, the ball boy quickly threw the ball to Serge Aurier.
The Ivorian immediately released the ball and sent Moura through down the wing, before he cut the ball back for Harry Kane to restore parity.
Tottenham’s equaliser against Olympiacos on Tuesday night should not have stood
A Tottenham ballboy played a huge part in the goal after giving the ball to Serge Aurier quickly
However, replays of the goal demonstrate that Aurier’s left foot was over the touchline when planted – and as such constitutes a foul throw.
VAR was of course available at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – but it chose not intervene and disallow the goal on that occasion.
Unlike the clear manner in which the right-back’s foot was over the line, UEFA’s official VAR protocol is far more hazy regarding the matter.
But Aurier himself stepped over the white line from the throw-in in the build up to the goal
It states that: ‘The VAR is also able to take into account any infringement that could have taken place in the immediate build-up to the incident.’
This is not the first time that Aurier has struggled with the issue when delivering a throw-in.
In February 2018 he famously and rather embarrassingly managed to take three foul throws in the same match against Crystal Palace.
However VAR failed to intervene and Harry Kane’s first goal of the night was not disallowed
While Aurier’s role in Kane’s equaliser has been heavily scrutinised, the ball boy received high praise for his part, especially from manager Jose Mourinho.
He said: ‘I love intelligent ball boys. He understood the game and made an assist.
‘I was, between 10 and 16-years-old, a very good ball boy and he was a very good ball boy.
Aurier has a history of taking foul throws after the three he took against Crystal Palace last year
‘He was reading the game and wasn’t looking at the stands.
‘I wanted to invite him to the dressing room to celebrate with the players but he had disappeared.’
Spurs eventually scored two further goals through Aurier himself and Kane again to secure the win and passage into the knockout stages of the Champions League with a game to spare in Group B.
Kane also created history with his second goal, becoming the fastest player in Champions League history to score 20 goals in the competition.
Jose Mourinho was nevertheless seen congratulating the ball boy for his role in the goal