Tottenham Furious as VAR Explains Why Jayden Bogle Escaped Red Card After Horror Challenge on Mathys Tel
Tottenham Hotspur have been left frustrated after Leeds United defender Jayden Bogle escaped a red card for a controversial challenge on Mathys Tel during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Elland Road.
The incident occurred in the 34th minute when Bogle attempted to win possession from Tel near the halfway line. However, the Leeds defender caught the Tottenham forward on the Achilles with his studs, leaving the Frenchman on the ground in considerable pain.
Spurs players immediately appealed for a red card, but referee John Brooks decided against showing any punishment.
VAR official Tony Harrington subsequently spent several minutes reviewing the incident before confirming the referee’s original decision, meaning Bogle escaped without even receiving a yellow card.
Explaining the decision, the Premier League Match Centre revealed that VAR considered the challenge reckless but believed there was insufficient speed going into the tackle to justify a sending-off.
However, the decision has sparked widespread debate, particularly after Tel was forced off injured in the 43rd minute despite initially attempting to continue.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean was among those who disagreed with the decision, insisting that Bogle’s challenge was 100 per cent a red card offence.
The controversy has also brought comparisons with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was sent off for a similar challenge on Micky van de Ven during Tottenham’s previous match.
Speaking after the defeat, Roberto De Zerbi declined to blame VAR, saying he trusted the officials. Nevertheless, the Tottenham manager was clearly disappointed with his team’s overall performance.
To make matters worse, substitute Noah Okafor scored Leeds’ winning goal in the 79th minute, ending Tottenham’s three-match winning run.
The result leaves Spurs with plenty to reflect on, while supporters continue to question why Bogle escaped punishment for a challenge that ultimately forced one of their attackers out of the game. ML
