West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus will be sidelined for over a month after receiving a red card in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Ghanaian forward’s moment of madness has left his team reeling, facing a challenging period without their key player.
Kudus had opened the scoring for the Hammers with a well-taken strike, giving his team a glimmer of hope.
However, his outing took a turn for the worse late in the game. The 24-year-old appeared to kick out at Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven and slap Pape Matar Sarr in the face, prompting referee Andy Madley to initially issue a yellow card.
After reviewing the incident on the VAR screen, Madley upgraded the yellow to a red card, deeming Kudus’ actions as violent conduct.
Following this, the Premier League released a statement explaining the decision: “The referee issued a yellow card to Kudus.”
“The VAR deemed that his actions were violent conduct and recommended an on-field review. The referee then upgraded the yellow to a red card.”
Consequences of Mohammed Kudus Red Card
Following the red card, Kudus will miss West Ham’s three matches in the Premier League against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and Everton due to the suspension.
With the November international break intervening, his earliest appearance will be against Newcastle on November 25.
This prolonged absence might hurt the striker’s fitness and, in turn, test West Ham’s depth and resilience.
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui gave verdict on Mohammed Kudus Red card
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui expressed his acceptance of the referee’s decision, stating, “If the referee reviewed it and decided that it was a red card, then I cannot have a doubt.”
Lopetegui also highlighted the need for his team to remain calm under pressure: saying”Maybe it is another point to improve, when we suffer in the bad moments we keep calm and fight to the end as a team.”
However, pundit Ally McCoist disagreed with the red card decision, suggesting a booking would have sufficed.
McCoist said on TNT Sports. said:”Give him a booking and let’s get on with the game.”
Saturday’s defeat leaves West Ham 14th in the Premier League with just two wins from eight games.
Their stuttering start comes after a summer in which the Hammers spent heavily during Lopetegui’s first transfer window.
The Londoners invested over £120m on new signings, including Max Kilman, Crysencio Sumerville, and Niclas Fullkrug.
However, their next upcoming fixtures will be crucial in shaping their season.
Moreover, Mohammed Kudus’ suspension will serve as a significant setback for the Hammers.
His energy, skill, and goal-scoring ability will be sorely missed leaving Lopetegui the need to strategize on how to mitigate the impact of Kudus’ absence and guide his team through this difficult period.
What’s next for West Ham United and Kudus?
The 24-year-old Ghanaian forward will miss West Ham’s upcoming matches against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Everton.
What’s your take on McCoist’s comments on Kudus’ actions?
Do you agree his actions warranted such stronger punishment or not?
Please, share your thoughts with us in the comment box below
