West Ham midfielder Mohammed Kudus has spoken candidly about the mental and physical pressures he faced leading up to his red card incident in a recent Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
The 23-year-old was shown a red card after a heated confrontation with Spurs players Mickey van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr, in which Kudus was seen shoving both players during an intense exchange.
Reflecting on the incident, Kudus acknowledged the toll that recent stress had taken on his emotions. “I was stressed before the game. I had traveled for a midweek international fixture and had been dealing with a lot of negative comments on social media,” he explained. “It was a tough time mentally, and unfortunately, that got the better of me during the match.”
Kudus’s actions, which included pushing both Van de Ven and Sarr in the face, resulted in a red card after VAR intervention. Despite his lapse in judgment, Kudus took full responsibility, expressing deep regret for his behavior.
“I accept that I lost my cool, and it’s not who I am,” Kudus said in a statement. “I’m deeply embarrassed by my actions. I’ve always tried to be a role model, especially for my community and people in Ghana.”
In a hearing, the FA panel recognized Kudus’s sincerity and noted his previously clean disciplinary record. As a result, he received a two-game ban in addition to a standard three-game suspension, bringing the total to a five-game ban. Kudus was also fined £60,000.
While Kudus will be sidelined for several matches, the midfielder has vowed to come back stronger, emphasizing his commitment to growth and learning from this experience.
