At a glance:
- Tottenham drew 1-1 against Leeds
- James Maddison had a penalty appeal denied
- Pundits believe it was an incorrect call
Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League on Monday.
After a goalless first half, Mathys Tel (50’) gave the hosts the lead with an outstanding strike from the edge of the box. However, he turned into the villain 20 minutes later, as he fouled Ethan Ampadu in the box to give Leed a penalty. Dominic Calvert-Lewin made no mistake from the spot.
James Maddison then had a penalty appeal controversially waved off in stoppage time after a challenge from Felix Nmecha.
Paul Robinson believes Tottenham should have received a penalty
The Premier League Match Centre claimed that Maddison’s penalty appeal was waived off due to an apparent touch on the ball from Nmecha.
However, former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson disagreed with it and said on the Premier League Productions:
“Nailed on penalty. I mean, Maddison made such a difference when he came on. I think Nmecha will say that he got a slight touch on the ball, but when you watch the ball, it’s not like Nmecha kicked the ball out for a corner kick, and the ball’s out of play or Maddison’s not getting it.
“Regardless of whether he’s got a touch on the ball, that football’s still in play, and he stopped Maddison getting it. It’s a penalty.”
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Robinson also added that it shouldn’t matter if Nmecha got a slight touch on the ball, because it didn’t change its trajectory at all. He also argued that Maddison would not have gone down there in the final minute of stoppage time if there was no contact on him.
Michael Owen backs Robinson’s comments
Owen also said that Tottenham should have received a penalty for Nmecha’s challenge on Maddison. He reiterated Robinson’s argument and said:
“If there is a touch on the ball, if any, it’s a feather touch. It is still in Maddison’s, you know, area? It’s still in play. I think that’s a penalty. I really do.”
The former Liverpool striker also said that he understood the on-field referee not giving it in real time. However, he claimed that VAR should have asked him to watch the incident on the screen.
Also Read: Tottenham 1-1 Leeds: Player Ratings as Mathys Tel goes from hero to villain
Regardless, Tottenham failed to secure a crucial win in their relegation battle. They are just two points above West Ham United with two games remaining against Chelsea (A), and Everton (H).
