Watch Tottenham star Royal get ‘assist of the season’ as he picks up referee’s red card to show to Marseille’s Mbemba

EMERSON ROYAL has been credited with getting the assist of the season after handing the referee his card as he sent off a Marseille player.

Just after the interval, Harry Kane played a ball in behind the Marseille defence for Son Heung-Min to run onto, but a last-man tackle from Chancel Mbemba saw Son tripped up.

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Referee Slavko Vincic goes to get his red card out of his pocket[/caption]

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The card drops onto the pitch but Emerson Royal reacts quickly to pick it up for him[/caption]

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Chancel Mbemba is shown his marching orders following Royal’s assistance[/caption]

Consequently, referee Slavko Vincic was left with no choice but to brandish a red card.

However, as he opened his back pocket the card fell out and onto the pitch.

But Emerson was quick to react and picked up the card to hand it back to the ref.

Mbemba was then shown his marching orders.

Spurs ended up winning the game 2-0 thanks to a headed brace from Richarlison on his competition debut, but the part Emerson played in the win was not overlooked by fans.

One Twitter user said: “Emerson Royal with the assist of the season as he picks up the referee’s red card to send a Marseille player off.”

A second user wrote: “Emerson Royal frantically picking up the red card and giving it to the ref,” followed up by a laughing emoji.

A third user added: “Na love you Emerson, how’s he picking up the red card for the ref lmaoo.”

The game was also marred by fan violence in the stands, with riot police needed to break up the incident.

Victory marks a winning return for the club to the Champions League, in a week where Premier League teams struggled on the continent.

Manchester City, Spurs, Arsenal and West Ham were the only teams to win their midweek fixtures, while Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all fell to defeat.

Chelsea’s defeat also proved to be the final straw for Thomas Tuchel as The Blues manager – and he has subsequently since been replaced by Graham Potter.

The Premier League and EFL have announced this weekend’s fixtures will be postponed as a mark of respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after Buckingham Palace announced she had passed away on Thursday.

Tributes from around the world of sport have poured in to pay homage to the Monarch.