De Zerbi criticises Spurs' second-half display after Leeds 1-0 amid debate over Bogle challenge
Roberto De Zerbi adopted a restrained tone at Elland Road on Saturday after Tottenham lost 1-0 to Leeds United in a Premier League match, despite controversy over a first-half challenge by Jayden Bogle on Mathys Tel that did not result in a red card. The incident prompted a VAR review lasting more than four minutes and left Tel unable to continue with a bruising injury to his left foot.
De Zerbi had been expected to criticise officials following Tottenham's defeat, with attention centred on referee John Brooks' decision not to dismiss Bogle for the late challenge on Tel in the first half. At the time of the contact, the game was still goalless and Tottenham were arguably on top; the result also denied Spurs a fourth consecutive Premier League victory for the first time since October 2023 and marked their first league defeat since September. The VAR check ended without further on-field action.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren McCann assessed the tackle as meeting the threshold for a sending-off. "Bogle's challenge meets the criteria for serious foul play as he endangers the safety of an opponent," McCann told BBC Sport. "He can consider himself lucky to still be on the pitch." By the time play resumed there were less than nine minutes of the first half remaining and Tottenham's momentum and composure waned.
The review was conducted solely by officials in the VAR hub at Stockley Park after Brooks did not go to the pitchside monitor, a procedural detail that drew comment. "They've said no red card, and this will create debate," former Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live. Because Brooks had not initially issued a caution to Bogle, the defender left the incident without punishment.
De Zerbi declined to attribute the defeat to refereeing and instead faulted his side's second-half performance. "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." He also expressed support for the match officials: "I have big confidence in the referee. Nothing changes if he goes to the monitor," and later added, "We have full confidence in the referee and VAR. I cannot say nothing more." Early in the second half Pedro Porro and De Zerbi were booked simultaneously after a challenge by the Spanish defender; De Zerbi said, "I was surprised on the yellow card for Pedro Porro because it was clear," and added, "The potential red card, I couldn't say."
VAR lead Tony Harrington communicated his conclusion to Brooks while Tel received treatment. Harrington told Brooks: "I'm confirming the on-field decision of no red card. There's a lack of speed going into the challenge and he's stepping into the tackle. Confirming a reckless challenge." A reckless challenge is a yellow card, but the VAR is unable to intervene and advise that Bogle should be booked.
The incident drew comparisons with a similar episode a week earlier when Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off for a challenge on Micky van de Ven, with commentators noting differences in the nature of the tackles. The article observed Mateta had been booked on-field and described his action as a "lunging, stretching tackle with studs leading," whereas officials characterised Bogle's contact as "stepping into the challenge," a distinction they said made a sending-off less likely.
Okafor was the difference as Leeds secured a 1-0 victory to record their first win since September, while Tottenham suffered their first Premier League defeat since September and missed the chance to notch a fourth straight league win for the first time since October 2023.
