Defoe: Referee right over 'bite'

Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe insists referee Steve Bennett would had red-carded him if he had been guilty of biting Javier Mascherano during the 1-0 victory over West Ham.

Defoe claims the incident during yesterday’s game at White Hart Lane “has been blown out of all proportion” even though video replays showed him appearing to bite the Argentinian’s arm.

Mascherano had fouled the Spurs forward with a lunging tackle from behind, sparking a reaction from the 24-year-old.

Referee Bennett booked both players but, while Defoe admits the incident does not look good on television, he maintains it was only done in a mischievous fashion.

“This has been blown out of all proportion,” he said. “When the West Ham player fouled me, I reacted in a bit of a mischievous way – my character is a little like that at times.

“The referee was standing right over me and, if he felt I had done anything bad, he would have sent me off.

“The incident doesn’t look great on TV and I accept that as a role model to kids I have a responsibility to conduct myself in the right way, which I always try to do on and off the pitch.”

Sports minister Richard Caborn has urged the Football Association to look at the video evidence of the incident.

Caborn told The Times: “Any action like this I hope the authorities will decide on. I have said time and again that players in these positions have a great responsibility to set a good example.”

Despite Caborn’s calls, the FA may be bound by their rules in looking again at the incident.

The fact Defoe was booked suggests they will be unable to issue further punishment, though the recent forearm smash by Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher on Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes was treated as an exceptional case.

Spurs boss Martin Jol insists Mascherano will bear no scars after describing Defoe’s reaction as a “comical nibble”.