Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has not minced his words when talking about the decision to not send off Jayden Bogle in Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to Leeds United.
While Roberto De Zerbi will be leading an inquest into Tottenham’s poor second-half display at Elland Road, the topic that has dominated the headlines over the past few days is Bogle’s first-half challenge on Tel.
While the on-field referee, John Brooks, did not produce any card, what surprised many was that the VAR, Tony Harrington, did not ask Brooks to re-watch the incident despite watching replays of the tackle from various angles for four minutes.
It was clear in the replays that the Leeds defender had accidentally trodden on the back of Tel’s ankle with his studs, which meant that the Spurs forward could not continue.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean was adamant during the game that it was a clear red card, stating: “It is 100 per cent a red, he has caught him right down the back of the Achilles. It is not a good tackle at all. I would be astounded if John Brooks is not sent to the screen.”
Dermot Gallagher agrees Tottenham were unlucky not to be playing against 10 men
The verdict from former officials has been unanimous, with former assistant referee Darren Cann stating that Bogle was lucky to not be sent off.
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Cann said: “Jayden Bogle was, in my opinion, very fortunate to escape a red card for a challenge on Mathys Tel. Bogle stood on the back of Tel’s Achilles and the challenge was similar to Ryan Sessegnon’s red card challenge for Fulham against Hull a few weeks ago.
“Bogle’s challenge meets the criteria for serious foul play as he endangers the safety of an opponent, and he can consider himself lucky to still be on the pitch.”
Now, Sky Sports’ resident referee pundit, Dermot Gallagher, has seconded Cann’s opinion, making it clear that the challenge met the threshold for a straight red.
Gallagher said on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch about Bogle’s tackle: “I think it is a red card, he is extremely lucky, he catches him across the Achilles, high, we have this directive of ‘above the ankle, or Achilles’ and that falls under that line. We saw it with Ryan Sessegnon a few weeks ago with a similar tackle and Mateta last week.”
Tim Sherwood and Jay Bothroyd give their take on VAR’s decision
Former Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd believes that the Leeds defender’s tackle on Tel was not intentional, with the right-back simply trying to push off from the ground with the standing foot.
However, he agreed that given the precedent set in the Premier League for challenges such as the one by Bogle, the 26-year-old should have received his marching orders.
Bothroyd said: “I do not want to see red cards for those kind of challenges, they are accidental, they are trying to put their foot somewhere and players are tricky. They have moved, then shifted the ball and players have to try and put their foot down and push off.
“Here he has put his foot down and it has landed on Tel’s Achilles, but going by the consistency of the law, they have to give that as a red card.”