Here are the worst Tottenham Hotspur VAR decisions of all time in the Premier League, including disallowed goals, controversial penalty decisions, poor calls and questionable red cards. Spurs have every right to be frustrated by the addition from PGMOL.
VAR was introduced to the Premier League at the start of the 2019/20 season and Tottenham fans will not be happy with some of the wrong decisions that have gone against them, both at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and also away from home.
VAR was brought in to try and help on-field referees make the right decision, but since its introduction, it’s safe to say that it has caused even more controversy. The Video Assistant Referees have made some very big mistakes and they have been shocking ones due to the technology they now have at their disposal.
VAR denies Harry Kane penalty vs Newcastle – 25/08/2019
Tottenham faced Newcastle in the Premier League back on the 25th August 2019 and VAR was very new to football at this time. During the game, Harry Kane glided into the penalty box with the ball, only to be tackled to the ground by defender Jamaal Lascelles.
The centre-back had lost his footing and fell right in front of Kane. This action saw the Newcastle player tackle the striker to the ground. VAR were given the time to check the decision after Mike Dean said it wasn’t a penalty. The VAR agreed with the referee and Spurs were not awarded a penalty, much to the dismay of the North London club.
Son Heung-min receives red card vs Everton – 03/11/2019
On 3rd November 2019, Tottenham faced Everton at Goodison Park. During the match, Son Heung-min made a lazy challenge on Andre Gomes. It was given as a yellow card and rightly so; however, Gomes had to be stretchered off and due to the severity of the injury, it was upgraded to a red card and VAR did not intervene despite what replays showed.
Looking back at the replays, it showed that Gomes actually suffered the injury more due to his landing and not the actual tackle. Although it caused a bad injury, it was not the player’s intention at all and the decision should have been a yellow card.
Harry Kane goal vs Sheffield United due to Lucas Moura handball – 02/07/2020
On the 2nd of July 2020, Spurs faced Sheffield United in the Premier League and lost the game 3-1 away from home. The result could have been a lot different as Kane had a goal disallowed due to an apparent handball.
Sheffield United took the lead in the match and Kane scored immediately from the restart thanks to some great play from Lucas Moura. As the Brazilian managed to get the ball to Kane, he was bundled to the ground and his body was what helped get the ball to his striker.
VAR deemed that the Brazilian committed a handball as he was pushed to the ground despite the ball hitting his shoulder and upper arm. Arguably Spurs could have got a foul in the first place but it felt like a very strange decision to overturn. Tottenham can be rightfully frustrated by VAR’s involvement here.
VAR do not give Harry Kane a penalty vs Bournemouth – 09/07/2020
Tottenham were playing against Bournemouth in the Premier League on the 9th July 2020. Jose Mourinho was the manager at the time and they needed every point possible to battle for a position in the top six. The game was played in July due to COVID postponing the 2019/20 season.
In the match, Tottenham had a corner and as the ball is swung in, it looks like Harry Kane has a free header from about six yards out. As the ball gets closer to him, Bournemouth attacker Josh King bundles into the English forward, pushes him in the back and tackles him to the ground.
The referee didn’t give a penalty and the decision went to VAR. Surprisingly, they also did not feel the need to overturn the decision for what looked like an obvious penalty.
Newcastle awarded penalty via VAR for Eric Dier handball – 27/09/2020
This decision is one in which you can see the reasons behind VAR giving it but in reality, everyone who has played the game knows it is very harsh and one in which Eric Dier could do nothing about. Tottenham were 1-0 up against Newcastle on the 27th September 2020 and in they dying moments of the game, VAR was called into play.
They were judging whether defender Dier handballed the ball. The player does handball it but it is the fashion in which he does so that makes this penalty a very controversial moment. Dier is jumping for a ball that comes into the box, Andy Carroll then heads the ball back towards the direction of Dier and as he is in the air, about a yard away from Carroll, the ball hits his arm.
Dier has absolutely no control of where his arms are going due to jumping and is also facing away from Carroll. The handball is not deliberate in the slightest and with him so close to the ball it feels like there was no need for VAR to tell the referee to head to the screen and check his original decision of no penalty. In the end the penalty was given and Newcastle made the score 1-1 in the 95th minute.
VAR fails to award freekick for Spurs before Brighton goal -01/11/2020
Tottenham faced Brighton on the 1st November 2020 and although the North London side won 2-1, they could have been a lot more relaxed in the match if referee Graham Scott made the right decision. Spurs were 1-0 up and midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg was tackled just outside the Spurs box.
Brighton then immediately scored following the tackle from Solly March, which should have been given as a free-kick. Scott was told by VAR to go to the screen to check the decision and both he and VAR surprisingly agreed in the end that the goal should stand.
VAR doesn’t give Tottenham a penalty vs West Ham – 31/08/2022
Tottenham had a big match in August 2022 against London rivals West Ham at the London Stadium. In the first half, Spurs players were fuming after a shot was blocked by Aaron Cresswell in the box. The ball clearly hit the defender’s arm and his arm was not in a normal position. It clearly looked like it prevented a possible goal.
The referee immediately gave Tottenham the penalty, but VAR then checked the decision and asked him to go to the screen on the side of the pitch to reconsider the decision. He made the right choice in the first place but due to VAR’s intervention, he was influenced and eventually changed his mind and didn’t give a penalty.
Southampton awarded penalty against Tottenham – 18/03/2023
Tottenham were playing Southampton at St.Mary’s on the 18th March 2023 in a huge Premier League game for both sides. Spurs desperately needed to win for their European hopes whilst Southampton were battling relegation.
In the end, the game ended 3-3, but the match should have ended 3-2 to Tottenham. The Saints were given a penalty deep into stoppage time of the second half following a tackle between Pape Sarr and Ainsley Maitland Niles. Referee Simon Hooper immediately pointed to the spot and VAR felt like they didn’t need to intervene.
The Spurs midfielder is going to clear the ball when Maitland-Niles jumps across him and whilst in the air Sarr’s foot grazes his leg. It is minimal contact and the touch from Sarr does not cause the player to fall like he did as he was still mid-flight. It is one of those decisions where if the referee did not give the penalty then VAR still would have not intervened.
Receive a digest of our best Spurs content each week direct to your mailbox
