Roberto De Zerbi has claimed match officials were not calm during Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Leeds United, suggesting the pressure from a previous VAR controversy influenced their decisions. The Tottenham boss pointed to the intense scrutiny following West Ham's disallowed goal against Arsenal just 24 hours earlier.
De Zerbi's side took the lead through Mathys Tel's stunning first-half opener, but Leeds equalised from the penalty spot after a contentious VAR intervention. Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted the spot-kick following a review that overturned referee Jarred Gillett's initial decision.
The incident occurred when Tel attempted an overhead kick to clear the ball, catching Ethan Ampadu in the head with his high boot. After a lengthy on-field check, Gillett was advised by VAR to consult the monitor and ultimately awarded the penalty.
Speaking after the match, De Zerbi did not hide his frustration. "I think they were not calm today," he said of the officials. "Maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday's Arsenal game. For sure we suffered the pressure today. We didn't play with passion with the ball, too frenetic but also the referee was not calm today."
Tottenham had their own penalty claim in the 103rd minute when James Maddison went down after feeling contact from Lukas Nmecha. VAR checked and cleared the incident, upholding Gillett's on-field decision of no penalty. De Zerbi declined to comment directly on that decision, focusing instead on the broader officiating atmosphere.
The draw leaves Tottenham four points above the relegation zone, having missed the chance to move further clear of 18th-placed West Ham. With just two games remaining, every point is crucial in the battle for Premier League survival.
De Zerbi also referenced the previous day's VAR controversy at West Ham, where a late equaliser was disallowed for a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. The incident sparked widespread debate, and De Zerbi was unequivocal in his view: "I can't understand the polemic about yesterday's VAR because it was 200 per cent a foul, not 100 per cent, 200 per cent."
Leeds manager Daniel Farke offered a contrasting perspective, praising the officials for correctly using VAR to award the penalty. The result extends Leeds' unbeaten run to four matches, strengthening their own survival hopes.
For Tottenham, the frustration is twofold: the dropped points and the feeling that external pressure is affecting the integrity of match decisions. De Zerbi's comments highlight a growing concern among managers about the consistency of officiating in high-stakes matches.
As the season reaches its climax, the scrutiny on referees will only intensify. Tottenham must now regroup for their final two fixtures, knowing that their Premier League status hangs in the balance. Based on reporting from Sky Sports.