Jose Mourinho says VAR is in danger of killing the 'best league in the world' as he confirmed that Tottenham have appealed the red card given to Son Heung-min in Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Chelsea.

The South Korean forward was sent off for violent conduct after appearing to retaliate against Antonio Rudiger, who subsequently reported racist abuse from the stands. And while Mourinho sympathised with Rudiger over the abuse, he accused the German defender of play-acting in order to get Son sent off, and believes it is Rudiger rather than Son who should face punishment. “I think the focus should be on Rudiger and not on Son,” he said.

Referee Anthony Taylor initially saw no offence when Rudiger went down clutching his ribs after tangling with Son, but the official was overruled by Video Assistant Referee Paul Tierney and the striker was dismissed.

Tierney had earlier reversed Taylor's decision not to award a penalty to Chelsea, and both Mourinho and Frank Lampard agreed with VAR's intervention in that instance. But the Tottenham manager said on Monday: “The situation with Son, I think Mr Tierney got it wrong. It's the wrong call. This is England, the Premier League, the best competition in the world, with characteristics that if we change them we are killing the best league in the world.