The Tottenham Hotspur player has taken to social media to hit out at the decision
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has suggested that referee Jarred Gillet was ‘petrified’ of awarding a penalty to Spurs during stoppage time of Monday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
The playmaker, who was making his first appearance since May last year after suffering a cruciate ligament injury, has claimed Lukas Nmecha did not get the ball at any stage, despite VAR ruling that his tackle did not warrant a penalty.
Replays showed a deviation of the ball in the last phase of the tackle motion, which appeared as though it came from Nmecha’s foot. But Maddison is adamant that it was him who nicked the ball, and took to social media to state his view.
He wrote on Instagram: "For clarity… The small, tiny touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my right foot, not Nmecha, and I told the ref that.
"But the check was over in about 20 seconds. Officials are petrified to make decisions on pitch now because of VAR. We keep fighting. COYS."
After the match, Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi - who received a yellow card during the match for protestations - stated he felt the officials should have “been more calm”, albeit refrained from commenting on the penalty incident itself.
The 1-1 result keeps Spurs firmly in the relegation fight, sitting two points ahead of West Ham United with two games to play. Leeds - who themselves earned a penalty for the equaliser when Mathys Tel’s boot connected with Ethan Ampadu’s head - were mathematically safe going into the match.
West Ham’s dramatic defeat to Arsenal on Sunday means the Whites are an unassailable eight points ahead of 18th place, with the final home game against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend ahead of the final day clash at the Hammers.