De Zerbi stays calm as Bogle escapes red in Spurs' defeat
Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 1‑0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday, ending their Premier League winning run that had lasted since September and placing manager Roberto de Zerbi under pressure and prompting questions about the referee's handling of Jayden Bogle's challenge on Mathys Tel.
It was somewhat surprising to see Roberto de Zerbi adopt a more peaceful tone when he faced the media at Elland Road after the loss. He had been expected to launch an angry tirade at the officials, especially after his side recorded its first Premier League loss since September. The decision not to send Jayden Bogle off for a late challenge on Mathys Tel was widely seen as influencing the result and possibly denying Tottenham a fourth straight league win for the first time since October 2023.
When Bogle caught Tel with his studs, the match was still goalless and Tottenham appeared to be the better side at Elland Road. A lengthy VAR check lasting more than four minutes concluded with no further action against the Leeds defender, allowing play to resume. Mathys Tel, however, could not continue after sustaining a bruising injury to his left foot.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren McCann said Bogle was “fortunate” not to be dismissed. He added, “Bogle's challenge meets the criteria for serious foul play as he endangers the safety of an opponent… He can consider himself lucky to still be on the pitch,”. By the time play resumed, less than nine minutes remained in the first half and Tottenham’s momentum and composure were fading quickly.
De Zerbi’s side never recovered from the incident and, after the break, were outworked and outplayed by the home team. Nevertheless, the manager, perhaps buoyed by his side’s recent rise up the table, refused to blame the referee for Spurs’ failings. He told, “We deserved to lose the game in the second half and didn’t play like we can… I am sorry for the performance in the second half – we didn’t have the right character and physicality.”
Okafor scored to give Leeds the lead, securing the club’s first league win since September. The defeat marked Tottenham’s first Premier League loss since September.
VAR review and referee conduct
When the PA system at Elland Road announced a VAR check, many expected Bogle to receive a red card. John Brooks did not go to the pitch‑side monitor to review the incident. The entire four‑minute review was conducted solely by those in the VAR hub at Stockley Park.
Former Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown said on BBC Radio 5 Live, “They've said no red card, and this will create debate.” Because Brooks had not initially cautioned Bogle, the defender escaped any punishment. De Zerbi replied, “I have big confidence in the referee. Nothing changes if he goes to the monitor.” He added, “If they didn't take the right decision I don't know. We have to keep the eyes on the performance where we can improve.”
Spurs’ reaction and further bookings
Early in the second half, Tottenham’s frustration boiled over when defender Pedro Porro and De Zerbi himself were booked after a challenge by the Spanish defender. De Zerbi called the yellow card for Porro “incredible” given the first‑half events. He told BBC, “I was surprised on the yellow card for Pedro Porro because it was clear… We have full confidence in the referee and VAR.”
Bogle was indeed very lucky to avoid even a booking. The foul occurred as Bogle positioned his body with his right foot and, in trying to plant his left foot, stood on the ankle of the Spurs player, making the contact appear innocuous at full speed. Slow‑motion replays later showed the contact to be ugly, with a twisted ankle, which could have prompted VAR official Tony Harrington to send Brooks for an on‑field review.
Tony Harrington spent far too long examining the footage, perhaps feeling he had more time while Tel received treatment. Such prolonged reviews only tend to raise doubts about the process.