West Ham midfielder Mohammed Kudus has opened up about the mental and physical pressures that contributed to his fiery red card in the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
The 23-year-old was sent off after a confrontation with Spurs players Mickey van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr, which saw Kudus push both players during an intense exchange. The incident, which followed a VAR review, resulted in a red card.
Kudus admitted that the stress he was under before the match played a significant role in his reaction. "I was stressed before the game. I had travelled for a midweek international fixture and received a lot of negative comments on social media," he said. "It was a tough time mentally, and I let that affect me during the match."
The midfielder's actions—shoving Van de Ven and Sarr—led to his dismissal, but Kudus took full responsibility and expressed regret. "I accept that I lost my cool, and it’s not who I am," he acknowledged. "I’m deeply embarrassed by my behaviour. I’ve always tried to be a role model, especially for my community and people in Ghana."
Despite the red card, the FA panel recognized Kudus's sincere apology and his previously clean disciplinary record. As a result, they imposed a two-game ban in addition to a three-game suspension, totaling five games, along with a £60,000 fine.
