[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-why-maddison-says-referees-are-petrified-var-fallout":43,"news-related-why-maddison-says-referees-are-petrified-var-fallout-en":76,"news-related-match-why-maddison-says-referees-are-petrified-var-fallout-en":168},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":28,"hostCities":39},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",6,23,"upcoming",[40,41,42],"Mexico City","Monterrey","Zapopan",{"article":44},{"awayTeamId":45,"awayTeamName":46,"body":47,"category":48,"excerpt":49,"homeTeamId":50,"homeTeamName":51,"id":52,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":55,"matchName":56,"publishedAt":57,"slug":58,"sourceName":59,"sourceURL":60,"teamId":50,"teamName":51,"teamIds":61,"teamNames":68,"title":75},"326257546358689792","Leeds","Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison has ignited a fresh debate over Premier League officiating by claiming that referees are now “petrified” to make decisions due to the overbearing presence of the Video Assistant Referee. His outburst came after a contentious stoppage-time penalty appeal was turned down in Monday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United, a result that leaves Spurs just two points above the relegation zone and deepens the crisis of confidence in VAR.\n\nMaddison’s frustration carried added weight because the match marked his long-awaited return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The 29-year-old midfielder entered as an 85th-minute substitute, hoping to inject life into Tottenham’s season. Instead, his late run into the box ended with a tangle of legs as he went down under contact from Leeds defender Lukas Nmecha. Referee Jarred Gillett waved play on, and a VAR review that lasted barely 20 seconds upheld the decision, sparking fury from the England international.\n\nTaking to Instagram after the final whistle, Maddison provided a detailed rebuttal. “For clarity… The small, tiny touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my right foot, not Nmecha, and I told the ref that,” he wrote. “But the check was over in about 20 seconds. Officials are petrified to make decisions on pitch now because of VAR. We keep fighting. COYS.” The post crystallized a growing sentiment among players and fans that VAR is undermining on-field authority rather than enhancing accuracy.\n\nThe speed of the review—or lack thereof—is at the heart of Maddison’s complaint. In a system designed to correct clear and obvious errors, a cursory check suggests either a hurried dismissal or a reluctance to challenge the referee’s initial view. This hesitancy aligns with a broader pattern: match officials appear increasingly inclined to defer to the technology, eroding the instinctive decision-making that once defined the role. The result is a paralysis by analysis, where the fear of being second-guessed by replays leads to fewer interventions, not more.\n\nThis is not the first time Maddison has publicly admonished officiating standards. In September, he slammed referees and VAR for having “an absolute shocker of a start” to the season. That criticism coincided with PGMOL chief Howard Webb’s implementation of a “less intervention” policy, intended to let games flow. However, the unintended consequence has been a vacuum of accountability: instead of fewer controversies, the league has seen a spike in frustrated managers and players questioning whether VAR is being used at all, even as it looms over every critical incident.\n\nMaddison’s view finds powerful allies in the punditry booth. Former England striker Alan Shearer has been a relentless critic, labeling current officiating standards “the worst we have seen for a long time” and directly blaming VAR for making things worse. Ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock went further, calling VAR “the worst thing that has been introduced to the game,” while Wayne Rooney lamented that football’s raw emotion is being drained by technological interference. Their collective voice underscores a crisis: the very tool meant to bring fairness is instead breeding resentment and confusion.\n\nThe discontent has reached the highest levels of European football. UEFA has summoned representatives from the continent’s top leagues to a summer meeting to examine how VAR is being deployed. Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s chief refereeing officer, acknowledged the drift away from the original intent, saying: “I believe that we forgot the reason why VAR was introduced.” This rare admission signals a potential overhaul of protocols, with leagues under pressure to restore trust in officiating.\n\nFor Tottenham, the controversy could not have come at a worse time. Languishing dangerously close to the drop zone, they face a two-game scramble to preserve their top-flight status. Maddison’s return was supposed to be a catalyst, but the fury over missed calls threatens to overshadow on-pitch performances. His social media statement, while cathartic, also highlights the psychological toll: when players feel the system is rigged against them, focus fractures at the worst possible moment.\n\nThe implications extend beyond Spurs. If elite officials are indeed “petrified,” the integrity of every match is called into question. VAR was launched with the promise of minimizing human error; instead, it has amplified anxiety and created a new category of mistakes. The looming UEFA summit may offer a reset, but until clear, consistent standards are enforced, incidents like Maddison’s penalty claim will continue to dominate headlines and fuel debates that the game can ill afford during a relegation battle.\n\nAs the Premier League season reaches its climax, the pressure on referees will only intensify. Maddison’s comments have ripped the lid off a simmering frustration, and unless swift changes arrive, the officiating crisis risks defining the campaign as much as any title race or relegation fight. For now, Spurs and their returning midfielder must navigate a path to survival amid the chaos.\n\nBased on reporting from BBC Sport.","news","James Maddison accuses officials of being petrified by VAR after Tottenham's draw with Leeds, highlighting a league-wide officiating crisis.","326257546094448640","Tottenham","329767743047864321","326135625054949376","Premier League","327053601446825984","Tottenham vs Leeds","2026-05-12T21:40:10Z","why-maddison-says-referees-are-petrified-var-fallout","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc4g4kj53zq0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[50,45,62,63,64,65,66,67],"326257545712766976","326257545918287872","326222711682502656","326222707169431552","326222713142120448","326255039884562432",[51,46,69,70,71,72,73,74],"Manchester United","Liverpool","England","Anderlecht","Canada","Vardar Skopje","Why Maddison Says Referees Are Petrified: VAR Fallout",[77,104,121,144],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":78,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":79,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":80,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":81,"slug":82,"sourceName":83,"sourceURL":84,"teamId":85,"teamName":86,"teamIds":87,"teamNames":95,"title":103},"After 14 seasons, Russell Wilson retires from the NFL to join CBS Sports as an analyst. The Super Bowl-winning QB leaves with 46,966 passing yards and 353 TDs.","337879170816151553","0","2026-06-04T07:25:00Z","russell-wilson-retires-seahawks-legend-joins-cbs-sports","Sky Sports","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Fnfl\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13550638\u002Frussell-wilson-announces-nfl-retirement-as-former-seattle-seahawks-quarterback-takes-up-tv-role","326257619071143936","Atlanta",[85,88,65,89,90,91,92,93,66,94],"326257810885054464","326257539962376192","326257545754710016","326257554411753472","326257556324356096","326257565602156544","326257546392244224",[86,96,72,97,98,99,100,101,73,102],"York","Como","Newcastle","Newcastle Jets","Newells Old Boys","Real Betis","Nottingham Forest","Russell Wilson Retires: Seahawks Legend Joins CBS Sports",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":105,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":106,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":80,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":107,"slug":108,"sourceName":83,"sourceURL":109,"teamId":110,"teamName":111,"teamIds":112,"teamNames":116,"title":120},"Jalen Brunson scored 30 as the Knicks erased a 14-point deficit to beat the Spurs 105-95 in Game 1, snapping their 6-0 Finals opener streak with an 11-0 run.","337875585936134145","2026-06-04T06:14:00Z","brunson-s-30-points-power-knicks-game-1-win-over-spurs","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Fbasketball\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13550620\u002Fnba-finals-jalen-brunson-stars-as-new-york-knicks-beat-san-antonio-spurs-in-game-1","326257592445702144","San Antonio",[110,88,65,66,113,114,89,115],"326255038114566144","326255040400461824","326257544227983360",[111,96,72,73,117,118,97,119],"Santa Clara","FC Santa Coloma","Santos","Brunson's 30 Points Power Knicks' Game 1 Win Over Spurs",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":122,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":123,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":80,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":124,"slug":125,"sourceName":83,"sourceURL":126,"teamId":127,"teamName":128,"teamIds":129,"teamNames":136,"title":143},"George Russell trails Kimi Antonelli by 43 points after five races, but with 17 rounds left and a resilient mindset, the 2026 F1 title is within reach.","337853170220797953","2026-06-04T06:00:00Z","why-russell-can-still-beat-antonelli-43-point-gap","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Ff1\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13550120\u002Fgeorge-russell-how-mercedes-driver-can-still-beat-kimi-antonelli-to-2026-f1-title-despite-falling-43-points-behind","326222711976103936","Australia",[127,130,66,131,132,133,65,89,134,135],"326257686389723136","326257536112005120","326257600737841152","326222711745417216","326257789708013568","326257604382691328",[128,137,73,138,139,140,72,97,141,142],"Together","Monaco","Junior","Japan","China","GOES","Why Russell Can Still Beat Antonelli: 43-Point Gap",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":145,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":146,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":80,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":124,"slug":147,"sourceName":83,"sourceURL":148,"teamId":149,"teamName":150,"teamIds":151,"teamNames":159,"title":167},"Ivan Dychko, who lost to Anthony Joshua in 2012 Olympic semis, faces Harvey Dykes in his UK pro debut Saturday and tips Joshua to potentially TKO Tyson Fury.","337853174020837377","ivan-dychko-joshua-fury-prediction-ahead-of-uk-debut","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Fboxing\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13550447\u002Fivan-dychko-anthony-joshuas-former-olympic-rival-ready-for-uk-return-in-bournemouth-and-offers-aj-vs-fury-prediction","326257545792458752","Bournemouth",[149,152,153,154,155,65,66,89,156,157,158],"326257664482873344","326257664751308800","326257700071542784","326257610275688448","326257745512632320","326257695210344448","326257576805142528",[150,160,161,162,163,72,73,97,164,165,166],"Kazakhstan","Bulgaria","Olympic","Leon","Members","Signal","Tune","Ivan Dychko: Joshua-Fury Prediction Ahead of UK Debut",{"awayScore":169,"awayTeam":170,"description":174,"homeScore":169,"homeTeam":175,"id":55,"kickoffAt":179,"length":180,"leagueId":181,"leagueName":54,"leagueSlug":182,"probabilityLabel":54,"slug":183,"status":184,"tvStations":185,"venueCity":186,"venueName":187},0,{"code":171,"id":45,"imagePath":172,"name":46,"slug":173},"AWY","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F63.png","leeds","Tottenham welcome Leeds in a crucial Premier League clash. Spurs need a win to keep their European hopes alive, while Leeds fight to avoid relegation. The result could define both teams’ seasons.",{"code":176,"id":50,"imagePath":177,"name":51,"slug":178},"HME","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F47.png","tottenham","2026-05-11T19:00:00Z",90,"326135624635518976","gb-premier-league","tottenham-vs-leeds-2026-05-11","live",[],"London","Tottenham Hotspur Stadium"]