Former PL referee claims Spurs may have to hold talks with duo over bench antics

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett believes Tottenham may have to hold talks with directors Fabio Paratici and Steve Hitchen over their presence in the dugout during matches. 

The pair have both been spotted on numerous occasions behind the bench already this season, often trying to encourage the players out on the pitch. 

The reason Paratici and Hitchen have taken up such a position is due to COVID-19 protocols set by the Premier League, which requires players and staff in the ‘red zone’ of testing to be seated together in a specific area. 

However, it was previously hinted that some players within the squad were uncomfortable with the duo’s presence in the dugout and were unhappy with their sometimes animated and energetic behaviour, particularly towards match officials. 

As such, ex-referee Hackett believes Spurs’ director of football and technical director must be careful over their actions and what they say when situated in the technical area, adding that their position could impact the work of match officials. 

He also claimed that Spurs and Nuno may have the difficult job of holding talks with Paratici and Hitchen about their place on the bench, perhaps even telling them to stay away.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “Often we don’t know who they are. But in European competitions, the people in the technical area are named and their position highlighted.

“If as a referee or fourth official you are unhappy with any occupant of the technical area you can take action.

“I think this is an interesting one. In their position, they have to be very careful about what they say and what they shout. It’s an internal matter and it’s unusual.

“Usually you’ll have a doctor, the technical staff and the coaching staff and the places are limited.

“It’s a tight family so if the players are unhappy then they should talk to the manager and the manager has got a difficult task of saying they can’t come on the bench.

“In Europe, there’s a very clear limit on how many people can be in the technical area and it’s a competition rule. They cannot be breaking the Premier League rules because they’ve been allowed to sit there.”

Spurs Web Opinion 

It is a scenario we haven’t really seen before at Spurs, but it is quite refreshing to see some energy and passion from some of the higher powers at the club.

If anything, it is positive that they are being hands-on like this, and their encouragement from the side should spur the players’ performances on if anything. 

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