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Why Radu Dragusin was sent off for Tottenham vs Qarabag as double jeopardy rule explained

Radu Dragusin of Tottenham Hotspur goes off after recieving a red card during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Qarabag FK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 26, 2024
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)


Tottenham's Europa League campaign could not have got off to a much worse start. At home to Qarabag at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs were reduced to ten men after just seven minutes.

Centre-back Radu Dragusin got himself in all sorts of trouble in the centre circle, failing to control a pass to him and Juninho nipped in. The Brazilian was away, had he not had his shirt puleld by the Romanian and hauled down on his run to goal.

Referee Willy Delajod had no hesitation, reaching for his red card straight away, sending the centre-back off. And Dragusin could have no complaints as Juninho had a clear run through to Guglielmo Vicario's goal.

So why was Dragusin sent off? And what is the situation regarding double jeopardy?

Because Dragusin was outside the 18-yard box, the double jeopardy rule does not come into play. Double jeopardy was brought in to stop the double punishment of giving away a penalty - and potentially a goal - and being a man down.

This was brought in for cases where players made a genuine attempt to win the ball in the penalty area. Dragusin did not make a genuine attempt for the ball and he was not in the box giving away a penalty, thus the red card had to be shown for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

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It did not faze Spurs though, who went in front soon after, despite having ten men, with Brennan Johnson slotting home a pass from Dominic Solanke, who won the ball back high up the pitch.

Lucas Bergvall was the unlucky man to be sacrificed, taken off by Postecoglou with Destiny Udogie coming onto the pitch as a forth defender. Spurs continued to play their possession-based football with just ten men, and looked good for the rest of the first half.