Richarlison Has to Restrain Dejan Kulusevski as the Swedish Forward Fumes at Officials after Defeat

2023-12-08 7

Tottenham forwards Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison were pictured in front of officials, at the end of their 2-1 defeat, against West Ham on Thursday night, with one of the Spurs stars calming down their team-mate.

Yet it was perhaps not the player you would expect, with the former Everton forward in fact restraining Kulusevski at the end of the game, with the Swede international seemingly aggrieved with a decision that didn't go his way.

Richarlison has a reputation for not shying away from conflict on the pitch, notably caught up in two separate tense instances in the north London derby in January, pushing both Takehiro Tomiyasu and Aaron Ramsdale.

Yet on Thursday, it was Kulusevski left incensed, and it is thought that his fury stems from not getting a foul after feeling he was caught by the arm of West Ham star Lucas Paqueta during a challenge.

The Brazilian left unpunished, with the goal-scoring hero against Manchester City just a few days previously picking up a yellow instead.

Emotions were understandably high in north London on Thursday night again, with Spurs throwing away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1.

In doing so, they made Premier League history as the first team not to win despite taking the lead in five games in a row.

Cristian Romero on his return to the side following suspension had given the hosts the lead in the opening 11 minutes.

Yet the Hammers fought back, and after Jarrod Bowen's fortuitous equalizer, James Ward-Prowse capitalized on a defensive error to complete the comeback.

Kulusevski had struggled to make an impact in the game, his attempt to restore parity in the 92nd minute symbolic of his performance.

Cutting in off the right wing and making for the outside of the box, the Swede tried to wrap his left boot around the ball and send it flying into the top left corner.

However, he got his lines wrong, instead seeing his speculative effort careen well wide of the mark.

Football fans on Twitter were quick to see the funny side of Richarlison restraining Kulusevski, however, with one writing: 'Richarlison calming Kulusevski down, he’s a changed man'

Another added: 'Richarlison doesn’t want smoke unless he can be the one to start it!'

Yet Kulusevski's actions came in for criticism, with Mail Sport's Chief Football Writer Oliver Holt calling for a red card for his complaints and attempt at 'intimidation', comparing it to Erling Haaland's similar actions on Sunday.

'I'd like to have seen Kulusevski shown a straight red for his intimidation of the referee at the end of the Spurs-West Ham game last night,' Holt wrote on social media.

'The same should have happened to Haaland against Spurs. Pathetic behavior.'

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