Modric hits out at Cattermole challenge

Posted Thursday, November 11, 2010 by Teamtalk.com

Cattermole: Was booked for challenge

Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric has accused Sunderland's Lee Cattermole of putting his career in jeopardy with his challenge last night.

Modric claims Cattermole's studs-first tackle in the 1-1 Premier League draw at White Hart Lane could easily have broken his leg.

Cattermole was shown a yellow card for the 69th-minute incident, which sparked a brief melee between opposing players.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was adamant Cattermole should have been sent off for the third time this season, but opposite number Steve Bruce was equally convinced the challenge was fair.

Modric said: "Players who tackle like that need to think before making a tackle because they can ruin careers of friends and professionals. They just need to think about it.

"He should have been sent off. I can't show you now but there is a big swelling on my knee and he should have got a red card but the referee decided differently.

"When you see tackles like that, it is a little upsetting, and if they are not punished properly then even more so.

"For now, it is a little bit sore but I hope it will settle down.

"I jumped and if I stayed with my legs on the floor it would have been even worse, but I got out of the way at the last second.

"Maybe if I stayed on the floor I would have broken my leg but I jumped and that has probably saved me.

"Thank God everything finished well."

Referee Howard Webb was also at the centre of the game's other big controversy, electing to book David Bentley for diving in the box following a challenge from Boudewijn Zenden.

A fourth league game without a win means Tottenham face a real battle to qualify for the Champions League for a second successive season, leaving them four points behind the top four having played a game more.

Modric said: "If you look at the result, it is not good for us.

"We deserved to win. We should have had a penalty and maybe a red card (for them) and then it would have been a different game.

"But we need to focus on the next game and try to win."