Tottenham are expected to make a formal complaint to refereeing body Pro Ref after Jayden Bogle avoided a red card for his challenge on Mathys Tel during Saturday’s defeat by Leeds.
The Leeds defender, 26, caught Tottenham forward Tel on the back of the ankle with his studs during the first half, but received no punishment.
The incident was examined by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for four minutes, yet referee John Brooks was not asked to review the footage on the pitchside monitor. As a result, Bogle remained on the field and was not even booked.
Tottenham are understood to believe the challenge warranted a dismissal and will ask Pro Ref to explain why no red card was issued.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann said Bogle was “fortunate” to escape being sent off.
“Bogle’s challenge meets the criteria for serious foul play as he endangers the safety of an opponent,” Cann told BBC Sport. “He can consider himself lucky to still be on the pitch.”
Play resumed with fewer than nine minutes of the first half remaining, by which point Tottenham’s momentum and composure were beginning to disappear.
Roberto de Zerbi’s team did not recover after the incident and were outworked and outplayed by Leeds following the interval. However, De Zerbi did not blame the defeat on the officials, despite Tottenham’s recent rise up the table.
“We deserved to lose the game in the second half and didn’t play like we can,” he told TNT Sports. “It’s a journey for us because we can learn from this game.
“I am sorry for the performance in the second half – we didn’t play like a top team. We didn’t have the right character and physicality in the second half.”
De Zerbi backs officials despite frustration
The announcement over the Elland Road PA system that a VAR check was taking place suggested Bogle could be sent off, particularly given the similarity to the challenge for which Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta was dismissed against Tottenham last weekend.
Bogle had pursued the ball with force as Tel moved away, but Brooks never went to the monitor beside the pitch. The decision was therefore made entirely by the VAR team at Stockley Park.
“They’ve said no red card, and this will create debate,” former Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Because Brooks had not initially shown Bogle a yellow card, the Leeds defender escaped without any sanction.
“I have big confidence in the referee. Nothing changes if he goes to the monitor,” said De Zerbi. “If they didn’t take the right decision I don’t know. We have to keep the eyes on the performance where can improve.”
Tottenham’s frustration appeared to continue into the second half when Pedro Porro and De Zerbi were booked at the same time after a challenge by the Spanish defender.
De Zerbi called Porro’s caution “incredible” when discussing the decision on BBC Match of the Day.
“I was surprised on the yellow card for Pedro Porro because it was clear,” he said. “The potential red card, I couldn’t say.
“We have full confidence in the referee and VAR. I cannot say nothing more.”
