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Huge VAR farce at Tottenham as three decisions go against Brighton; both managers sent off

There was huge VAR farce once again this weekend at Tottenham as three decisions go against Brighton while managers clash on the touchline.

Son Heung-min scored his 100th Premier League goal, and Harry Kane clinched the winner as Spurs beat Brighton by 2-1 on Saturday.

Brighton was dominant for much of the game. Two goals were disallowed for handball, and a strong penalty appeal was turned down. Both managers were then sent off as scenes boiled over on the touchline.

Albion scored three goals and took 17 shots against Tottenham’s nine. Two of those attempts were disallowed because they were handball.

First, Kaoru Mitoma was found to have used his upper hand to control a chipped ball before scoring during the first period.

Lewis Dunk stated that he believed the ball had struck Mitoma over “the shirt line” – the point below which handballs are allowed – which was the basis of Brighton’s protests. However, despite a long VAR delay, the decision was upheld.

The second handball decision was more clean cut with Danny Welbeck’s effort at 10 yards being deflected by Alexis Mac Allister, and then under Hugo Lloris.

Brighton was originally given the goal to make it 2-1. However, replays revealed that it had struck Mac Allister’s arm. VAR disallowed.

According to the football laws, a player who scores in an opponent’s goal with their arm (even if it is accidental) should be disallowed.

However, a penalty decision was more contentious and came just before Kane got the winner.

As Mitoma controlled the ball in the box, Spurs midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojberg stood on his boot, resulting in the Brighton player falling to the ground.

Steve Wilson, BBC Match of the Day commentator, said that Mitoma was the first to the ball and Hojbjerg’s foot catches Mitoma’s boot. “I don’t see why it’s not a penalty.”

Referee Stuart Attwell turned down initial appeals and wasn’t asked to reverse the decision, or go to the TV monitor for a second look, despite another VAR check.

De Zerbi again tried to avoid getting involved.

“I don’t want to put more pressure on the referees,” he said. “I don’t like to discuss them. There were a lot of situations very clear.”

Chris Sutton said that call and the first handball decision was “horrendous”, adding: “Brighton have been robbed this afternoon.

“At least two horrendous decisions go against Mitoma. [Referees’ chief] Howard Webb will be apologising to them once again, of that I’m sure! Truly awful.”

It was certainly a frustrating afternoon for the Seagulls, who were denied what could have been a crucial three points in their bid for European football.

Lewis Dunk fumed post-match: “There’s no point having VAR in the game if you’re not going to make big decisions like that.

“That changes everything, I just don’t understand it.

“They can make the decision for the handball but can’t make the other ones, I think they made one tight decision for a handball but they don’t make a clear decision on the penalty.”

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi, speaking to MOTD: “We are very disappointed, very frustrated with the result. We have to be proud of this performance. We are not to forget we are Brighton. We deserved to win the game. We improved because we show our quality and our style of play.

On the VAR decisions that went against his team: “I don’t want to put more pressure on the referees. I don’t like to discuss them. There were a lot of situations very clear. You can take your opinion about this. My work is to give my players a clear idea of play.”

On his arguments with Spurs interim boss Cristian Stellini: “I am used to always respecting everyone and I want the same to me.”

 

Tottenham manager Cristian Stellini on whether they were lucky to win: “No, I feel we played a tough match against one of the best teams in the league in this moment. We knew what type of game we had to play but we played strong and created a lot of chances to score. We deserve it. I’m very happy for the players. We fought a lot. I am very happy because the reaction from my team is important.”

On Son Heung-min’s goal: “Yes it’s a fabulous goal. It is the type of goal that Sonny deserves to find good confidence. I am very happy for him and the team and we celebrated in the dressing room his 100th goal in the Premier League.”

On the tussle with Roberto de Zerbi: “I want to speak only about my team and the game not what happened between us and them on the bench. It was an important game and we beat them in their stadium. Probably every one of us was full of anger and tension. But everything that happened on the pitch stays there and it does now.”

On both managers getting sent off: “I don’t like to be involved when there is a fight or something too aggressive. I’m quiet and focused on the game. I try to do my job. It is only two games that I am a coach. I’m Cristian Stellini and I am the manager of Tottenham so I only speak of that. That is more important than anything.”

Will he be friendly with De Zerbi next time? “Of course. I am a friendly person. Football is enjoyable. You have to enjoy football and when you see something like this everyone can be disappointed at home. I don’t like to show something bad. From me this has never happened. I want to enjoy and fight with my team. If I have power inside me I want to use it to fight with my team.”

This is what fans said over the huge VAR farce at Tottenham as three decisions go against Brighton with both managers sent off…

@Trentvilla1: You were robbed, we all saw it. Many of us simply don’t believe it was human error or any of the excuses that will be made. It is fairly obvious what is happening and has been happening in the PL for some time, VAR’s use always seems to follow a pattern.

@StephenLightley: That was as bad as it gets today in your game. We’ve all been victim at times so we all@know they’ll do nothing. It’s corruption, plain and simple.

@CarloCharlton: From a toon fan- that is an absolutely disgrace. We’ve had multiple decisions go against us this season but this is sheer corruption for everyone to see. The FA need to kick the crooks out and let us take on their ‘big 6’

@crowst3r: They get paid to do a job and never ever are they held accountable for the decisions they make on the pitch. We all make mistakes but jesus 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

@JonnyQ88: Literally just watching the highlights this morning, and you got absolutely done yesterday. The Mitoma challenge, the Dunk shirt pull, and the Welbeck disallowed goal were all absolutely abysmal decisions. It’s a low bar, but Atwell is the worst ref in the league easily.

@JamieMoore76: Spurs will be delighted with their ‘win’ but this is blatant cheating, any decent fan will agree that Brighton were robbed yesterday.

@senornunes: It’s a huge game. So much riding on it, so much at stake. One where you really want your team and players to turn up. And they did. You also need the referee and the VAR official to turn up for work. And they didn’t.

@wearebrighton: We have been fucking robbed here. The Big Six won’t break away all the time they keep qualifying for Europe and the Premier League are now actively cheating to stop clubs like Brighton upsetting the apple cart. Levels of corruption the government would be proud of #BHAFC

@DJnr21: Mitouma foul was a pen, Perisic should’ve seen red, Højberg should’ve picked up a yellow, Dier should’ve picked up a yellow and Lenglet pull back was a pen. Not showing all of Brightons play acting and fouls they got away with and without bookings!

@mark_lockey: The Premier League don’t want Brighton anywhere near the top 6. Not worth the flack from the “big 6”

@BHAFC_Matchworn: @FA_PGMOL is there any point of Brighton fans going to watch any more games this season? Your staff seem to have a edict to ensure we don’t upset the establishment.

@Alan19673: Can’t have us lesser clubs infiltrating the Cartel clubs and taking their money they think they are entitled to get.

@garygriffoefc: Just seen this wow its just clearly bias to keep the top 4 race alive same as they manipulate the title and relegation drama to keep it interesting till end of the season. Corruption

@Dummy180: Absolutely mind blowing! Disgusting, blatant corruption! and not for the first time this season

@Cumbo7: The penalty shout on Mitoma is the only one that needs explanation, the others especially the cards are subjective the two disallowed we now know the handball law in the act of scoring

@MotorizerBHA: That’s not all of them either, the guy that made it says he missed a few because of the twitter video limit

@pimperelli7: The league’s a mess, every week there are dozens of incidents, it’s clear corruption/manipulation. Where theres money, theres corruption and the premier league is a multi billion pound industry, it’s no longer just a sport. Nothing will happen though and we will still tune in

@DavidAt75429588: That’s appalling… Obviously worried that BHAFC are here to stay in challenging for the big prizes. Top club didn’t deserve to be cheated this way – referee’s need to give their head a wobble.

@rob_nicka: Absolutely robbed by the officials! An apology does give you lads any points, it’s a disgrace

@HannDarren: Even the disallowed goal for handball Mitoma was pushed by the defender onto the ball, this wasn’t mentioned by pundits. Corruption pure and simple.

@chubberoo: Good to see other fans starting to see the corruption in the premier league – one rule for the “self proclaimed top six?” And another for the rest of the league. Can’t wait for all this to come out in the open soon enough, absolutely ruining football for me.

@JustRob17: As an Everton fan we see this every game. It’s a penalty for “contact in the area” or a red card for “being out of control” when it’s against us. Then the rules change when it might benefit us…. Corruption on display.

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