Roberto De Zerbi expressed confidence in VAR following the controversial decision not to send off Jayden Bogle in Tottenham’s loss to Leeds United.
Tottenham’s winning streak was halted at Elland Road with a 1-0 defeat, snapping their three consecutive victories.
Leeds avoided a red card in the first half when Bogle made contact with Mathys Tel’s Achilles, leading to Tel being substituted. After a four-minute VAR review, referee John Brooks was not advised to check the incident on the monitor.
De Zerbi was particularly frustrated when Pedro Porro received a yellow card for a less harsh challenge on Lukas Nmecha in the second half.
This incident resulted in De Zerbi receiving his third yellow card of the season, meaning he will face a touchline ban in the upcoming match against Ipswich Town.
Despite the controversies, De Zerbi remained philosophical about VAR’s role during post-match interviews.
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“No [the referee shouldn’t have been sent to the pitchside monitor for the Tel challenge], I have great trust in the referee,” he stated. “Nothing changes whether he reviews the clip or not.
“The VAR was there, and if they did not make the correct call, I can’t say, but we have faith in it. We need to focus on how we can improve our performance.”
“Pedro Porro’s tackle was just a typical duel and receiving a yellow card was outrageous. As for the incident with Mathys Tel, I didn’t see it, so I can’t comment.”
This marked Tottenham’s second loss in 14 Premier League matches against Leeds, as they also missed the chance for a fourth consecutive league win at Elland Road.
While Spurs dominated possession at 67% in the second half, they only managed four shots compared to Leeds’ 13, leaving De Zerbi feeling that their inability to convert chances cost them the match.
“In the first half, I believed we played well, even better than Leeds, creating two or three opportunities to score,” he remarked.
“In the second half, we didn’t perform well, and Leeds were much better. They deserved to win. We didn’t display the quality we showed against Chelsea and in our previous victories.”
Fan Take: This situation underscores the ongoing debates about VAR in soccer, which continue to impact match outcomes and team morale. For fans, it reflects the critical need for clarity and consistency in officiating, shaping their overall experience and engagement with the sport.
Source: www.soccernews.com
