Fans are convinced Tottenham star James Maddison should have been sent off for ‘punching’ Nottingham Forest midfielder… but Roy Keane and Jamie Redknapp criticise Ryan Yates for going down too easily

Roy Keane and Jamie Redknapp have criticized Nottingham Forest midfielder Ryan Yates for going down too easily following a clash with Tottenham’s James Maddison.

Many fans believe Maddison was lucky not to be sent off after he appeared to punch Yates.

The incident occurred late in the first half when Maddison made contact with Yates on the edge of the penalty area.

Yates, who fell to the ground, was later seen complaining to referee Simon Hooper.

VAR assessed the incident but Maddison escaped punishment and Hooper spoke to both players before action resumed.

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Redknapp suggested Yates was to blame for the incident. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “It’s not much. Yates is like that, he tries to get in players’ faces, a bit like Gascoigne and Vinnie Jones many years ago.”

Keane, who previously worked with Yates at Forest, claimed the 26-year-old went down too easily.

Keane said: “I worked with Yates at Forest, very nice guy, but every week someone touches him and he falls over.” He falls too easily. To be such a decent guy, he needs to eliminate that from his game.

One Forest supporter was particularly furious at the fact that Maddison was not sacked.

They wrote: ‘Can someone PLEASE tell me what the hell James Maddison is still doing on the pitch? Has he literally HIT Yates???’.

Another user wrote: ‘Did Maddison just allow Yates to be punched in the stomach?’

Furthermore, another user highlighted that Maddison should have been sanctioned after a VAR control.

They wrote: “How is VAR watching Maddison hit Yates and do nothing?”

There was further criticism of VAR, with one user writing: “Maddison just hit Yates and VAR does nothing.”

The decision not to punish Maddison was also described as “unbelievable”, as one user wrote: ‘James Maddison punches Ryan Yates in the stomach. VAR cleared it. Unbelievable.’

Maddison remained on the field until he was substituted in the 76th minute.