Mourinho appeals Son red: VAR 'killing the best league in the world'

Jose Mourinho confirmed Monday that Tottenham Hotspur submitted an appeal against Heung-Min Son's red card versus Chelsea and used his press conference as a platform to criticize VAR.

Son received his marching orders during Sunday's game after a VAR review found he kicked out at Antonio Rudiger. The incident was followed shortly afterward by the alleged racist abuse of the Chelsea defender from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium stands.

"I hope Son is not punished five times," Mourinho said, according to PA Media. "One time was the foul that Rudiger did on him. The second is to be sent off. The third would be not to play against Brighton. The fourth not to play against Norwich and the fifth not to play against Southampton. So I hope to be punished twice is enough, he doesn't deserve for the third, the fourth, or the fifth."

Referee Anthony Taylor didn't initially punish Son but brandished a red card when the tapes were reviewed by VAR official Paul Tierney. The Spurs attacker was deemed guilty of violent conduct for appearing to push his boots into Rudiger from his position on the floor.

"So, who was refereeing the game? Not Mr. Taylor. It was Mr. Tierney," Mourinho added. "I think not a red card. VAR was to support football, to bring true football, to bring true to the spectacle, and they did that with the penalty decision and they killed the game with Son's decision. The situation with Son, I think Mr. Tierney made it wrong. It's the wrong call.

"This is England, this is the Premier League, this is the best competition in the world, with characteristics that if we change them we are killing the best league in the world. Mr. Taylor had the feeling, he was there, he saw it clearly so I think it's the wrong call."