Son Heung-min's Third Red Card in 2019 Shows it's Time the Victim Charade Was Dropped

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea FC - Premier League / Julian Finney/GettyImages
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Let me just preface this article by stating the obvious: Tottenham fans love Son Heung-min.

The South Korean has produced a countless number of unforgettable moments while donning Spurs' colours over the last few years, including his brace at Manchester City in the Champions League, his mazy run and finish against Chelsea and, more recently, his solo effort against Bournemouth.

But we also have to admit that the lad has a bit of problem containing his emotions on the pitch. 

AFC Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
AFC Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League / Warren Little/GettyImages

A red card at Bournemouth towards the backend of last season came as quite a surprise, as he shoved over Jefferson Lerma with little provocation. OK, it happens.

His sending off at Everton earlier this term, while eventually rescinded, was also the result of some petulance after the former Bayer Leverkusen star was not awarded a free kick. 

Andre Gomes emerged with the ball, and we all remember the horrific scenes that followed.

Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Everton FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

He seemed to have put the incident behind him, instead playing with the flair and skill that made him one of the best players in the world. Son even came 22nd in this year's Ballon d'Or, so he's evidently very well thought of across the globe.

However, there still seems to be a mental block in his noggin somewhere. What's worse is that the most recent red card against Chelsea on Sunday, when he pushed his studs into Antonio Rudiger's rib cage after falling to the floor, has secured him a spot in history alongside the infamous Lee Cattermole.

As revealed by Opta, Son became the first player to be shown three red cards in a calendar year since Cattermole in 2010. Now there's a footballer renowned for giving referees decisions to make.

Yes, Son has the ability to inspire his teammates and win games for Tottenham, but his clumsiness and short-sightedness is costing his side points. Spurs deserved nothing from their clash with Chelsea, as they basically created no clear cut chances and gifted their opponents two goals, but Son's red card was the final nail in the coffin. They are now seventh in the Premier League, six points behind Chelsea who occupy fourth place.

The crying is weird. It's a bit creepy. Son has not been the victim when he's been sent off this year, so he needs to stop acting like he's being wronged. Enough with the overly dramatic reactions. Get back to scoring goals and winning Tottenham football games.

Once the suspension has been served, that is.


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