Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario would not have been sent off if he had held onto the ball to stop West Ham scoring.

The Italian beat Jarrod Bowen to a loose ball and palmed the ball away but James Ward-Prowse followed up to score at the second attempt.

Amazon Prime co-commentator Alan Shearer questioned why Vicario did not just hold onto the ball – forgetting that the ball was passed back to him by team-mate Destiny Udogie.

Fans were quick to point out Shearer’s error in judgement, with some claiming the keeper could have been sent off for collecting the ball.

One fan said: "What is Alan Shearer talking about on commentary? ‘I wonder if Vicario could’ve collected the pass back to him’

"My guy you can’t use your hands on a back pass! If he collected it he probably gets sent off."

Another added: "Shearer spouting absolutely nonsense. If Vicario gathers that ball surely it’s a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity?"

A third wrote: "Is Shearer saying that Vicario should have came out and picked the ball up? He does realise that it would have been a clear back pass and in that case an instant red card for denial of a goal scoring opportunity? I don’t get what else he wants Vicario to do there?"

And another commented: "Shearer is an idiot. if anything, the best thing that could have happened for Spurs the moment Vicario touched that with his hands was that West Ham scored then and there. otherwise, indirect freekick to West Ham from the spot of the offence, and possible red for Vicario."

Vicario would not have bene sent off for holding onto the ball – instead referee Michael Salisbury would have awarded an indirect free-kick.

In fact, any use of the hands from a backpass results in an indirect free-kick so the ref cleverly played advantage to allow Ward-Prowse to score.

The rules also state a goalkeeper cannot be sanctioned for a handling offence inside the area, so Vicario would not even have been booked, let alone received a red card.

Ward-Prowse’s strike proved to be the winner as West Ham came from behind to win 2-1.

Tottenham became the first side in Premier League history to fail to win in five consecutive matches in which they took the lead.