Leeds Beat Tottenham 1-0 as Bogle Tackle Goes Unpunished
Tottenham Hotspur lost 1-0 at Leeds United on Saturday, their first Premier League defeat since September. The match turned on a tackle that did not earn a card.
Just after the half-hour, the game was still goalless. Leeds defender Jayden Bogle caught Tottenham forward Mathys Tel with his studs, the spikes on the bottom of a football boot. Tel went down holding his left foot and was unable to carry on. BBC Sport reported that the injury was a bruising one.
Referee John Brooks did not send Bogle off. Because Brooks had not cautioned him, a yellow card, the lesser punishment, was not on the table either, and that left Bogle with no sanction at all.
The incident was checked by the video assistant referee, or VAR, a team of officials who review big decisions on video from a base. This review was carried out by the VAR hub at Stockley Park, in west London. It lasted more than four minutes and led to no further action. Brooks did not go to the pitchside monitor himself.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren McCann said Bogle was fortunate not to be dismissed. The debate has a recent comparison. Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off for a similar challenge against Tottenham the previous weekend.
Tottenham's manager, Roberto De Zerbi, did not hide behind the referee. He said: "We deserved to lose the game in the second half and didn't play like we can." He said he was sorry for his side's second-half performance, and that they did not play like a top team. He added that Tottenham lacked the right character and physicality after the break.
Asked about the referee, De Zerbi said: "I have big confidence in the referee. Nothing changes if he goes to the monitor." He refused to blame the defeat on the Bogle decision.
Leeds took the three points, and Tottenham leave Elland Road with a lot to think about. The first half was goalless, and the match was decided by a single goal after the break. For Tel, the next question is how serious the injury to his foot is, and the club has not yet said how long he will be out.
Tottenham's match report covers the rest of the afternoon, including the team changes De Zerbi made.
