The West Ham midfielder did not pick up a card for the challenge that caused Portugal's captain to come off just minutes into the match, and the former referee defended him.
UEFA chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina does not believe there was any malice in the tackle from France midfielder Dimitri Payet that prematurely ended Cristiano Ronaldo's Euro 2016 final.
Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo limped off during the first half of Portugal's eventual 1-0 extra-time triumph with a knee problem, failing to overcome the effects of Payet's early challenge.
The West Ham player went unpunished and Portugal boss Fernando Santos felt Payet should have received a card – not necessarily a view Collina subscribes to.