The Premier League have clarified why Tottenham star Heung-Min Son was sent off for his tackle on Andre Gomes, which resulted in the Everton star breaking his ankle.

But a number of talkSPORT pundits have blasted the decision to red card the South Korean, who was left distraught by the incident.

Gomes will have surgery on Monday after suffering a fracture dislocation to his right ankle during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

It was a sickening sight, with the player screaming in agony and his ankle twisted in an unnatural position after he fell awkwardly following a challenge from Son.

Referee Martin Atkinson initially issued a yellow card to the Spurs man but changed his decision to a red apparently after seeing the extent of Gomes’ injury.

Tottenham and Everton bosses Mauricio Pochettino and Marco Silva came out in support of Son following the game, with both insisting there was no intent from the player.

Meanwhile, Toffees skipper Seamus Coleman led a group of Everton players into the away dressing room after the game to console the Spurs star, who was in tears on the pitch after seeing Gomes on the ground.

In a statement, the Premier League explained the change, saying: "The red card for Son was for endangering the safety of a player which happened as a consequence of his initial challenge."

But that has not sit well with a number of talkSPORT hosts, who have blasted the decision to punish Son for what was a ‘freak accident’.

Initially it appeared Son’s challenge was a dreadful one but replays from an alternate angle showed that, while he did fly in, the contact was minimal. Gomes was knocked off balance by a clip from Son and the real damage was done when he landed awkwardly on the turf after the challenge.

Ian Holloway said on Monday’s Sports Breakfast: “It was never a red card in a million years.

“What happened to Gomes was horrendous, but just because something happens like that you can’t say there was intent, or the injury is so bad you can now give it.

“Poor Son. As if he meant that! It wasn’t his fault, it was a freak accident.”

Meanwhile, Danny Kelly said the reaction from Everton players, who consoled a distressed Son on the pitch as well as their own player, shows even they knew the red card was not deserved.

“What was noticeable was that the Everton players were not surrounding Son, they weren’t pushing him, they could see it for what it was,” he said on the Final Word on Sunday night.

“It was a foul and you might want to give him a yellow card for that, but it was not a deliberate attempt to hurt the bloke, it was an accident.

“You cannot have people being sanctioned on what the outcome is. Often, you get serious injury when there’s no intent at all, not even a foul, it can happen.

“An accidental clash of heads resulting in a broken skull, what are you going to do, ban him for life? It doesn’t seem right to me.”

Danny Kelly insists Tottenham star Son should not have been sent off for Andre Gomes tackle

Following the match, Pochettino did not rule out Tottenham making an appeal against the decision.

"It was clear it was never the intention of Son to create the problem that happened afterwards. It is unbelievable to see a red card," said the Spurs boss.

"In that situation we need to help because the decision of the referee was yellow card but the VAR changed the decision. It is the latest example of it being not clear.

"VAR needs to check if it was a bad tackle from Son and judge the action not what happened after.

"We all feel sorry for Andre. I want to send my best wishes to him and to his family in this tough moment. We want to send, on behalf of the squad, our best wishes."

ncG1vNJzZmiskaG4tLzOq6tnm5%2BifKe7zq2ZmqScZINzgJdraWidppq%2FtbvNZquorKSau6mtzGanq52dnrKzecuemKCtlWK1psHNoGSmoZ5iwLC6jJqlnaqVYrSwucSsZK2Zk6C5pns%3D