SKY SPORTS cameras captured the shocking aftermath of Tomas Soucek’s red card challenge against Tottenham.
The West Ham star was sent for an early shower by referee Jarred Gillett after a late lunge on Joao Palhinha.
The midfielder’s stud made contact high on the shin of Palhinha with the star left rolling around in pain.
And Gillett immediately reached for his pocket to brandish a red card to the 30-year-old.
On the decision, the Premier League Match Centre confirmed the decision had been checked by VAR.
A statement said: “The referee’s call of red card to Soucek for serious foul play was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be high on the shin which endangered the safety of the opponent.”
Sky Sports cameras then panned back to Portuguese footballer Palhinha as he sat up on the floor.
The 30-year-old was seen with a huge tear in his sock which exposed his shin guard.
This image highlights how close he came to potentially sustaining a gruesome injury.
The reckless challenge occurred in the 54th minute, moments after Thomas Frank’s Spurs had taken the lead through a Pape Matar Sarr header at a corner, delivered by debutant Xavi Simons.
Soucek’s sending off then saw the West Ham defence collapse, with Lucas Bergvall then running through to score a looping header following a delightful pass from Cristian Romero three minutes later.
Micky van de Ven then popped up to make it 3-0 in the 64th minute and kill the game as a contest.
It sent Spurs level on points with table-toppers Arsenal.
But it piled the pressure on to Graham Potter, with the Irons now having lost three league games this season.
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