Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall found himself at the centre of a bizarre incident during his team’s 2-2 draw with Brighton, after breaking a little-known Premier League rule but fortunately escaping a yellow card.
Tottenham’s Bergvall Escapes Punishment for Sneaky Corner Kick Maneuver
The event occurred during the first half of the match at the Amex Stadium on Saturday. As Tottenham prepared to take a corner kick, the 19-year-old Swedish international attempted a cunning tactical move.
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Instead of making his run across the front of the goal to challenge his marker, Bergvall sprinted behind the Brighton net, reappearing on the other side.
He likely hoped to lose his marker, national teammate Yasin Ayari, and gain a tactical advantage for the impending cross.
The teenager’s clever trick, however, did not go unnoticed. Referee Chris Kavanagh immediately spotted the infringement and halted play.
Rather than issuing a booking, Kavanagh gave the grinning Bergvall a warning for his actions.
Bergvall’s manoeuvre violated Law 11 of the FA rulebook, which governs offside but also covers players deliberately leaving the field of play.
The rule states that “a player who deliberately leaves the field of play and re-enters without the referee’s permission… and gains an advantage, must be cautioned” for unsporting behaviour.
While technically a bookable offence, this rule is rarely enforced, which explains why the referee opted for a verbal warning instead of showing a yellow card.
The unusual incident did not affect the final result. After going down 2-0 early in the game, Spurs fought back.
Richarlison scored before halftime, and a late own goal from Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke secured a 2-2 draw for Tottenham.
The hard-earned point propelled Tottenham above rivals Arsenal into second place in the Premier League table, marking a positive start to the season under new manager Thomas Frank.
