Manager Questions Referee’s Temperament in Crucial Draw
Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi raised concerns about the temperament of Australian referee Jarred Gillett following a pivotal 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Tuesday (AEST). The match, which took place in north London, saw a highly controversial decision by Gillett that sparked debate among fans and players alike.
In the 103rd minute, Lukas Nmecha appeared to be fouled by James Maddison inside the penalty area. However, Gillett waved play on, and a VAR review confirmed the referee’s initial decision. This call proved to be a significant moment in the game, as it denied Tottenham a potential penalty kick.
The match was not without its own controversies. Earlier in the game, Gillett had awarded Leeds a penalty for the equalising goal after Mathys Tels caught Ethan Ampadu in the head while attempting to clear the ball with an overhead kick. De Zerbi suggested that the officials might have been influenced by events from the previous day when West Ham United had a late equaliser disallowed by VAR against Arsenal.
“I think they were not calm today, maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday’s Arsenal game,” De Zerbi said. “For sure we suffered the pressure today. We didn’t play with passion with the ball, too frenetic but also the referee (Gillett) was not calm today.”
De Zerbi added, “I can’t understand the polemic about yesterday’s VAR because it was 200 per cent a foul, not 100 per cent, 200 per cent.”
The draw allowed Tottenham to take a small but potentially crucial step towards retaining their Premier League status. The team, currently just above the drop zone in 17th place, moved two points clear of relegation rival West Ham. Tottenham went ahead in the 50th minute with a stunning strike by Tels. However, Tels’ foul with 15 minutes left led to a Leeds penalty that Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted with aplomb.
Spurs will face Chelsea away and Everton at home in their last two games, while West Ham are set to travel to Newcastle before facing Leeds at home on the final day of the season. One of the two teams will join the already relegated Burnley and Wolves in next season’s Championship.
Key Moments and Performance
Spurs came into the game on a high after two consecutive victories. Although they dominated the first half in terms of possession and shots on goal, they failed to break the deadlock until five minutes into the second half. Pedro Porro’s corner kick was cleared to an unmarked Tels, who coolly struck into the far corner of the net from 20m out. It was the centre forward’s first goal since January.
Both sides experienced tense moments in the final stages of the game, with a remarkable 15 minutes of added time but no further goals. Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was outstanding, and the team will take comfort in the fact that their destiny remains in their hands.
“We played a good game but there was big pressure,” De Zerbi said. “We didn’t play calmly. We wanted to win immediately without passes. When you are fighting for relegation you can’t play every game calmly. Leeds played a good game and we hope they play like that against West Ham in the next game.”
Hull Secures Playoff Spot
Hull secured a spot in the Championship playoff final after a 2-0 victory over Millwall in London. Mo Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt scored second-half goals to give Hull a commanding lead in the two-leg affair. Belloumi’s 64th-minute strike with his left foot broke the deadlock, while Gelhardt sealed the win with a low shot that squirmed past the Millwall goalkeeper.
The win means Hull has one match remaining to secure a place in the Premier League for the first time since its relegation in 2017. Southampton and Middlesbrough drew the first leg 0-0 at the weekend and will play their return tie on Wednesday (AEST). The playoff final is set for Wembley on May 24 (AEST).
