Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has lashed out at match officials following his side's 1-1 draw with Leeds United, claiming referee Jarred Gillett was 'not calm' during the game. The Italian's remarks come after a contentious penalty award that swung the momentum of a match Spurs should have won to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
De Zerbi suggested that the pressure from recent VAR controversies, particularly West Ham's disallowed equalizer against Arsenal just 24 hours earlier, influenced the officiating. "I think they were not calm today, maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday's Arsenal game," De Zerbi said. "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."
The flashpoint occurred in the second half when Mathys Tel, who had earlier scored a stunning opener for Spurs, attempted an overhead kick to clear the ball. His high boot caught Leeds' Ethan Ampadu in the head. Initially, Gillett waved play on, but VAR advised him to review the incident on the monitor. After a lengthy check, Gillett overturned his decision and awarded a penalty, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted.
Spurs had their own penalty appeal in the 103rd minute when James Maddison went down under contact from Lukas Nmecha. VAR checked and upheld Gillett's on-field decision of no penalty, sparking further frustration from the home side. De Zerbi did not directly criticize that decision but questioned the overall consistency of officiating.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher analyzed Tel's error, calling it a 'crazy decision' from the young forward. "It's just a crazy decision from Tel. He's about to make his decision and he sees him, he looks. So he's made his decision but as soon as he knows there's someone there, it has to change," Carragher explained. He noted De Zerbi would be furious but must balance his frustration with Tel's attacking contributions.
The result leaves Spurs in 18th place, just one point above the relegation zone, with West Ham and other rivals lurking. The draw felt like a missed opportunity for De Zerbi's side, who had taken the lead through Tel's brilliant strike. The defensive fragility and costly individual errors continue to plague Tottenham's survival hopes.
De Zerbi's comments add to the growing scrutiny of Premier League officiating after a series of high-profile VAR controversies. The league faces pressure to improve consistency, especially with relegation battles intensifying. For Tottenham, the focus now shifts to their next match, where they must regroup mentally and tactically.
Carragher defended Tel's potential, arguing that his attacking ability could prove crucial in the survival fight. "He came off the bench at Wolves, got the corner and the winn" – but his reckless overhead kick undermined his earlier heroics. The incident will likely lead to discussions about player discipline in high-pressure moments.
As the season enters its final stretch, every point matters. Tottenham's inability to convert dominance into three points could haunt them. De Zerbi's outburst may serve as a rallying cry or further distract his squad. One thing is clear: the spotlight on referees and VAR will only intensify as the stakes rise.
Based on reporting from Sky Sports.