Ex-Premier League official Mark Clattenburg has expressed that Crystal Palace‘s Nigerian attacker Christantus Uche narrowly escaped a red card during Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Everton at Goodison Park, according to Soccernet.ng.
The controversial moment unfolded late in the game, shortly after Uche was introduced in the 89th minute.
Uche appeared to strike Everton defender James Tarkowski in the midsection, prompting a VAR review for potential violent conduct.
The match officials decided against any disciplinary action, allowing the game to continue after a brief interruption.
Clattenburg, renowned for refereeing the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final and Euro 2016 Final, contends that the 22-year-old forward should have been sent off.
“It’s unlikely that Christantus Uche will face retrospective punishment after what looked like a punch on James Tarkowski,” Clattenburg shared in an interview with We Are Palace.
“VAR reviewed the incident and apparently judged it didn’t warrant a red card. The FA typically does not revisit decisions already assessed by match officials, including VAR. Nevertheless, I believe VAR should have advised a review for violent conduct deserving a sending off.”
Stay Updated with Our Sports Coverage – Subscribe to Our WhatsApp Channel Today!
Notably, Tarkowski’s composed reaction to the incident likely influenced the lack of disciplinary measures. Had the Everton defender exaggerated the contact, VAR might have intervened to issue a red card and a subsequent suspension of up to three matches.
Uche’s Ambitions in the Premier League and for Nigeria
In the summer transfer window, Christantus Uche secured a loan move to Crystal Palace from Spanish outfit Getafe.
The arrangement includes an option to make the transfer permanent for a fee exceeding 20 million euros, contingent on Uche making ten starts for Palace this season.
So far, Uche has featured in only three matches across all competitions, all as a substitute, raising concerns for both Getafe and Ceuta regarding his playing time.
Parallel to his club ambitions, Uche is striving to cement his place in Nigeria’s senior national team.
He has appeared in friendly fixtures against Jamaica and Russia, but is yet to make his competitive debut.
Currently in Polokwane, South Africa, Uche is part of the Nigerian squad preparing for a pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho, which could mark his first official competitive appearance for the Super Eagles.