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James Maddison has now questioned the standard of Premier League officiating and VAR following the latest controversy involving Tottenham and Leeds United.

While Tottenham Hotspur will not have been pleased with their 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Monday night, they certainly will have been encouraged to see James Maddison return to Premier League action.

It has been more than a year since Maddison last played a competitive game for Spurs after suffering an ACL injury in pre-season.

However, when he came on for the final 20 minutes against Leeds, he looked lively, demanding possession in several areas of the pitch as his side searched for a winner.

James Maddison sends VAR message after Tottenham draw

Spurs came close on several occasions against Leeds, but finding that all-important second goal proved difficult.

The biggest opportunity of the night may well have come from the penalty spot after Maddison went down in the box following a quick dribble, with Nmecha involved in the challenge.

Unfortunately for the Spurs, the on-field referee waved away their appeals and, after a brief VAR review, officials ruled there had been no clear and obvious error from Jarred Gillett.

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A frustrated Maddison has now taken to Instagram to question both the decision and the wider use of VAR in the Premier League.

Writing on his Instagram story, Maddison explained why he believed the decision should have gone Spurs’ way while also criticising how quickly the check was completed.

The Tottenham midfielder wrote: “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.”

Spurs cannot afford costly mistakes at this stage of the season

Spurs are now in a very precarious position as they continue their fight against relegation this season, with just two points separating Tottenham from West Ham United with two games left to play.

Any slip-up from Spurs at this stage of the campaign could prove costly, especially with the Hammers breathing down their necks.

Should Tottenham go down this season, they may well look back at that decision against Leeds as one of the moments that contributed to their relegation.

Tottenham now head into the biggest week of their season knowing they have little room for error, although one scheduling quirk could hand Spurs a slight advantage ahead of their clash with Chelsea.

It is starting to get very tense at the bottom of the Premier League table with just two games left to play.

This week’s round of results certainly brought good news for Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, who are now safe and can no longer be relegated.

However, for Tottenham, the situation remains tense, with Spurs just two points above 18th-placed West Ham United.

Things could well have looked different for Tottenham had they made the Hammers pay for their dropped points against Arsenal in matchweek 36.

Unfortunately, Spurs failed to do so, instead drawing 1-1 with Leeds United and leaving the relegation battle wide open heading into the closing stages of the season.

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Tottenham handed rest advantage before Chelsea clash

Tottenham will now turn their attention to their next Premier League fixture, with Chelsea awaiting at Stamford Bridge.

The Lilywhites know the scale of the challenge ahead, given they have managed just one Premier League win against the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

However, Spurs must avoid defeat if they are to maintain their place in 17th, making the clash against Chelsea even more significant.

Before Tottenham return to action, though, eight days will have passed since their draw with Leeds United. That is because the meeting between Spurs and Chelsea was rescheduled after the Blues reached the FA Cup final.

As a result, Tottenham will head into the encounter with eight days of rest, while Chelsea are set to have just three days to recover.

Spurs must make rest advantage count

That significant break could certainly play into Tottenham’s hands as they will have more time to prepare for their London rivals.

However, Spurs have struggled to take advantage of similar situations this season when they have enjoyed a longer rest period, which will only add to concerns heading into the game.

Regardless, with Chelsea now very unlikely to secure a Champions League place, winning the FA Cup could represent their best route into Europe given their poor league form.

Should the Blues beat Manchester City and secure European qualification that way, Chelsea’s players could have little left to play for when they face Tottenham, something Spurs will hope works in their favour.

James Maddison has revealed how his body is feeling after making his Tottenham comeback and opened up on the emotions he was feeling as he was about to come on against Leeds.

Spurs had posted clips of Maddison impressing in training over the last few weeks, and Tottenham fans were eagerly waiting for the 29-year-old’s return.

After being an unused substitute in Spurs’ last three matches, the attacking midfielder finally made his return against Leeds on Monday.

Maddison entered the fray on 85 minutes to a standing ovation from the home fans, and the former Leicester man has now reflected on his long and difficult journey back from his ACL injury.

James Maddison admits he will never forget the reception from Tottenham fans

The England international confessed that his injury lay-off feels like a lot more than just nine months, pointing out that he had initially suffered a partial ACL injury in the Europa League semifinal back in May before suffering a full tear in a pre-season friendly in August of last year.

He revealed that he now feels in a good place physically and admitted that the reception he received from the Tottenham faithful when he was introduced was special.

When asked about his ninth-month rehabilitation, Maddison told Football.London: “It was longer than that for me. In my head, it goes back to the Europa League semi-final here when I got injured here [at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium] because I did a partial ACL tear against Bodo/Glimt. I was told by the [external] specialist it wouldn’t need surgery and rehab.

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“Then obviously it wasn’t strong, it didn’t recover properly and I needed the full surgery which is what happened in South Korea. So in my head it’s not really been like that it’s been longer. But that being said that was still an amazing moment which will live with me forever that reception I got today.

“There have been some dark days in the last year, especially since the surgery. It has been a really tough year for me mentally but I’m at the end of the tunnel now so I can kind of look back on that with fondness because I’m as mentally strong as I can after going through that. Physically, I feel really good so the moment personally is something that will live with me forever, the reception Spurs fans gave me.”

Maddison admits he is proud of the hard work he has put in over the last 12 months

The experienced midfielder remarked that he had no doubts in his mind that he would come back stronger from his major setback, declaring that he left no stone unturned in his rehabilitation.

He opened up on the many tough moments away from the spotlight during that journey, and thanked his loved ones for keeping his spirits up and the physios who guided him through the journey.

Maddison added: “There was never any doubt about getting back, it was more the sadness of what I would miss and for the longevity of it. I knew once I had the surgery, these days, there is so much research and work that has gone into ACL injuries. It is the most researched injury there is,” he said.

“It’s actually quite simple rehab it’s just a real grind and it’s long and it’s hard. It’s just not very tricky because of the amount of research that has gone into it. So I just had to do the work, there is no corners cut. There was never any doubt about getting back.

“Some tough days mentally to do the work when the light at the end of the tunnel is just not in sight but we are there now and I’m really grateful for the physios who worked with me and sports scientists and everyone who has made it possible for me to come back and feel this good.

“My partner, my parents, my children, the physios, the players, everyone. Sometimes you just have to deal with yourself. Some of the worst days are when we have had highs when the team are away winning in the Champions League and you’re just not a part of it. That is tough as well.

“So many tough moments but proud of myself for how hard I have worked to get back to this position to be able to come back and play in the Premier League.”

Tottenham head to Stamford Bridge needing a result to aid their survival fight and, despite their dreadful record against Chelsea, recent events may finally hand Spurs a reason for optimism.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was a missed opportunity for the Lilywhites in the race for survival.

Coming into that clash, Tottenham knew exactly what was required after West Ham United fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal.

Spurs needed to beat Leeds United to open up a four-point lead over the 18th-placed side and give themselves some breathing room heading into the final two games.

However, that draw now means Tottenham are just two points clear of the drop zone, although they do hold a superior goal difference.

Tottenham handed Chelsea hope ahead of Stamford Bridge clash

There is still so much to play for at the bottom of the table, with the relegation scrap now set to go right down to the wire.

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Spurs face Chelsea next at Stamford Bridge and, given their record at the ground, where they have won just once in Premier League history, there is every reason for concern.

Still, Tottenham can draw some encouragement from Chelsea’s recent results this season, with the Blues themselves enduring a poor run of form heading into the encounter.

As things stand, Chelsea are one of the worst-performing sides in the division, having failed to win a league match since March and going seven Premier League games without victory.

However, while that could serve as a positive for Tottenham, many Spurs fans will remember how the struggling Blues secured a 2-2 draw in the famous Battle of the Bridge back in 2016, effectively ending Tottenham’s title hopes that season.

Spurs may only need a point at Chelsea

Interestingly, though, a draw could well be enough for Spurs when they face Chelsea next week.

Should Tottenham manage a point and West Ham United beat Newcastle United in their own game, Spurs would remain 17th, although they would be level on points with the Hammers.

That would effectively make the final-day clash against Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a must-win encounter, as failure to do so, combined with a West Ham victory over Leeds United on matchday 38, could send the Lilywhites down to the Championship.

Tottenham Hotspur fans have now received further bad news regarding Dejan Kulusevski, whose return date keeps getting pushed back.

The attacking midfielder has now been out with a knee injury for 12 months, and there are no signs to suggest that he is close to a return.

It was previously reported by Alasdair Gold that Tottenham are waiting for the pain in Kulusevski’s knee to subside before stepping up his rehabilitation, but there has been no official update from the club on the 26-year-old’s return date.

The latest news coming out of Sweden suggests that Spurs fans may still have to wait for a while to see the former Juventus man back on the pitch.

Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski’s World Cup dream is now over

Kulusevski had set his sights on being fit for this summer’s World Cup after seeing Sweden seal their place in the tournament via the playoffs.

However, the Spurs star has not made it into Graham Potter’s squad for the competition this summer, meaning he will not kick a ball again until 2026/27 pre-season at the earliest.

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Kulusevski’s Tottenham teammate, Lucas Bergvall, has been named in the squad and is set for his first appearance in a major international tournament. However, it appears that Deki’s own World Cup dream is now over.

What Roberto De Zerbi has said about Kulusevski and his injury

De Zerbi previously admitted that Kulusevski is a ‘perfect’ player for his system, with the Italian evidently keen to work with the 26-year-old.

A couple of days ago, the Tottenham boss shared that Kulusevski told him he could return to training as early as next week.

However, Potter’s decision to leave him out of the World Cup squad is a clear indication that Sweden’s medical team are not expecting a rapid recovery for the winger after 12 months out of action.

Tottenham Hotspur fans will love how Cristian Romero reacted after seeing Mathys Tel give the Lilywhites the lead against Leeds United.

The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric when Leeds came to visit, with the home fans doing their best to push the side on in their quest to move four points clear of West Ham.

The roof came off the stadium when Mathys Tel produced a moment of fine quality to put the Lilywhites 1-0 up in the 50th minute.

It seemed at that point as if Spurs were in the driver’s seat to secure their Premier League status, and the reaction from the Tottenham bench showed just how much the goal meant.

Watching Cristian Romero take out Tottenham staff member while celebrating

Unlike his predecessors, Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, who had poker faces on the touchline at times, De Zerbi wears his emotions on his sleeve and is seen kicking and heading every ball.

Unsurprisingly, the Tottenham boss and his staff celebrated jubilantly when Tel found the back of the net, but the man who had the most visceral reaction on the Spurs bench was club captain Cristian Romero.

Romero, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, accidentally even knocked down a member of staff to the ground as he jumped with excitement when the Frenchman gave the Lilywhites the lead.

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The pressure told on Spurs in the final 30 minutes

Unsurprisingly, the atmosphere at the stadium changed completely when Leeds equalised, with the supporters suddenly becoming extremely nervous and anxious.

That is the big problem with the situation Tottenham find themselves in at the moment, with the nerves of the fans transferring onto the players on the pitch.

Spurs fans will be hoping that they will look back on this as a good point at the end of the season rather than as the moment when they allowed their big chance of survival to slip away.

Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy disagreed on whether Tottenham’s 1-1 draw against Leeds was a good result for the Lilywhites in their quest to avoid relegation.

The Spurs players, staff and the supporters will look back on the clash against Leeds as two dropped points, given that they had the chances to put the game to bed before the away side equalised.

However, things could have ended in much worse fashion for the Lilywhites were it not for Antonin Kinsky pulling off one of the saves of the season to deny Sean Longstaff a potential late winner.

The result leaves Roberto De Zerbi’s men two points clear of West Ham with two games to go, with the battle for survival looking set to go down to the wire.

Jamie O’Hara claims Tottenham ‘fell apart’ against Leeds

Jason Cundy, who usually takes delight in Tottenham’s demise, has suggested that a point may not be the worst result for the North London side.

However, O’Hara disagreed with his co-host, insisting that Spurs had a golden opportunity to give themselves breathing space but lacked the killer instinct to get over the line.

The former Spurs midfielder said on talkSPORT’s The Sports Bar: “I’ve got a headache, it’s painful watching Tottenham play football”, to which Cundy responded: “It’s a good point, it’s a good point. You’re a point further away from West Ham, a point further away from Lincoln…it’s never a bad point.”

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O’Hara then concluded: “We just cannot win at home, it’s been months since we’ve won at home! We could have put West Ham to bed tonight… Leeds weren’t at the races… we fell apart, we were bottling it all over the park, no one had any bottle to get on the ball, make a pass, have some structure.”

O’Hara blasts Spurs’ forward line for showing agianst Leeds

While De Zerbi took some positives from Tottenham’s performance against Leeds, O’Hara felt that there were not many redeeming things about the Lilywhites’ display.

The Spurs academy graduate expressed his frustration at Spurs’ front three of Randal Kolo Muani, Richarlison and Mathys Tel for the errors they made.

O’Hara added about Tottenham’s performance: “It was 11 players out there hoping something might happen. We are crap… Tottenham are terrible.

“Randal Kolo Muani was wearing Timberlands. Richarlison is an international footballer, but can’t hit a barn door. And Tel is bicycle kicking it in his own box!”

Roberto De Zerbi has singled out a Tottenham youngster for praise after his side played out a 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Monday.

Spurs had a golden opportunity to go four points ahead of West Ham after they had lost to Arsenal on Sunday, but they were unable to grab it with both hands.

De Zerbi had to settle for another draw in his second home game in charge, which means that the threat of relegation remains very real for Tottenham heading into their final two games of the season.

It could have been even worse for the Lilywhites if not for the heroics of a 23-year-old, whose contribution was not lost on the Spurs boss.

Roberto De Zerbi is delighted with the improvement of Tottenham starlet Atonin Kinsky

Antonin Kinsky made a couple of world-class saves, and if not for his brilliant reaction to parry Sean Longstaff’s effort to the post, the Lilywhites may have been on the receiving end of a gut-wrenching loss.

Jamie Carragher has labelled the Kinsky’s late stop as one of the saves of the season, and De Zerbi has now admitted that he had no doubts about the Czech goalkeeper’s ability from the day he arrived at Hotspur Way.

When asked about Kinsky’s performance, the Italian told Football.London: “He’s improving a lot. He’s a good goalkeeper. I had no doubt in my first days in Tottenham because I knew him before coming here. He played in Madrid, he made that mistake, and it was tough for him. He has great personality, strong character and he deserves to play a game like today.”

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De Zerbi insists Spurs are not short of quality despite injuries

Kinsky is one of several backup players who have stepped up amid Tottenham’s injury crisis, with the likes of Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel also grabbing their opportunities with both hands.

De Zerbi insists that despite Spurs’ injury setbacks, he is lucky to be working with the calibre of players he is at the moment.

When asked if the lack of attacking depth due to the injuries hurts his side, given the demands his system places on the attackers, the 46-year-old responded: “Yes, but I think I am very lucky to have these players, even if we have too many injuries. I think we have enough quality and the good enough players to stay up.

“I said this after Sunderland, after Brighton. I think in the last four games we’ve made eight points, but we deserve more than eight points. For that, I am positive, I’m happy. I’m looking forward to starting to work this week and preparing for the next game.”

Jamie Carragher was left very impressed with one Tottenham Hotspur star in the 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Monday night.

Spurs may look back on the clash against Leeds as two points lost, with the home side having the chances to win the game.

The visitors equalised due to a lapse in concentration from goalscorer, Mathys Tel, who attempted an overhead kick inside Tottenham’s own box, catching Ethan Ampadu in the process.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted from the spot, and despite pushing for an equaliser, Roberto De Zerbi’s men couldn’t quite break through, and now go into their final two games just two points off the drop zone.

Antonin Kinsky just made one of the saves of the season for Tottenham

Carragher believes a point is not a bad result for the home side, given some of the chances Leeds had towards the end of the game.

The pundit opined that Antonin Kinsky’s reaction stop to parry Sean Longstaff’s attempt onto the crossbar is one of the saves of the season so far.

The Liverpool legend told Sky Sports: “I think that point will feel a lot better in the morning, when they reflect on the game. You think of the save from the keeper, Kinsky, from Longstaff onto the bar – that is one of the saves of the season. The two saves he made, one in the first half and one in the second, has made sure his team have got what could be a vital point.”

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Has Kinsky displaced Guglielmo Vicario as Spurs’ number one?

The 23-year-old also made an outstanding first-half save after a well-worked corner by Leeds, keeping the ball out by mere inches when it seemed destined for the bottom corner.

Roberto De Zerbi declared ahead of the game that Guglielmo Vicario remains Tottenham’s number one, but the Czech goalkeeper has not put a foot wrong, and he has delivered in big moments over the last few weeks.

It will be difficult for the Spurs boss to leave Kinsky out of the team when Vicario returns, as he will be aware that one wrong decision could be the difference between staying up and going down.

A tense draw between Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United was shaped by several controversial referee and VAR decisions that left Spurs and their fans frustrated after the final whistle as key moments in the match went both ways but the big calls did not favour the Lilywhites.

Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United in a match that had several important moments and talking points. Spurs still moved two points clear of the relegation zone, but there was disappointment afterwards as they felt the game did not fully go their way.

The match started in a tight and balanced way at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both sides struggled to create clear chances in the first half, and neither team was able to take full control, which kept the game evenly poised going into the break.

After half-time, Spurs eventually broke the deadlock. Mathys Tel scored a well-taken goal from outside the box, giving the home side the lead and lifting the atmosphere inside the stadium. However, that advantage did not last for long, as the match soon turned on a controversial VAR decision involving Tel.

Mathys Tel bicycle kick cost Spurs their clean sheet

The biggest turning point of the match came in the 74th minute when Tel who had already scored for Tottenham attempted an acrobatic clearance inside his own penalty area. His clear intention was to clear the ball away from danger, but in doing so he caught Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu, who had reached the ball first with his head.

At first, referee Jarred Gillett allowed play to continue, but VAR then stepped in and called for a pitch side review of the incident. After checking the monitor, the referee changed his decision and awarded Leeds a penalty, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted to make it 1-1.

That decision shifted the momentum of the match and, from a Tottenham point of view, it felt very harsh because it came down to interpretation between dangerous play and a genuine attempt to clear the ball. The long VAR check also broke the rhythm of the game and added to the frustration among fans as the flow of the match changed during the stoppage.

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From that moment, the game became more tense and difficult for Spurs to control. The equaliser changed the flow, and both the fans and the club were left frustrated and felt several decisions did not go in their favour as the match went on.

James Maddison penalty appeal waved away for Tottenham

The second big moment came deep into stoppage time when Spurs were denied a late penalty in the 103rd minute. With the score still 1-1, James Maddison went down inside the box after a challenge from Leeds striker Lukas Nmecha.

Referee Jarred Gillett first waved play on, and VAR agreed after a quick check, saying Nmecha had made enough contact with the ball. However, the decision was still heavily debated because replays did not clearly show a clean touch on the ball.

The timing made it even more painful for Spurs, as a penalty at that moment could have all but secured Premier League survival by putting them four points clear of West Ham with just two games left. Instead, the appeal was turned down and Tottenham missed the chance for what would have been their first league penalty of the season.

The decision also caused strong reactions after the match, with many feeling the check was too quick compared to similar incidents. Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara said it was a clear penalty and felt frustrated by what he saw as another inconsistent call going against Spurs.

Late Micky van de Ven foul not given for Tottenham

The third controversial moment came late in the match when Spurs felt they should have been awarded a free kick in a dangerous area. In the closing minutes, Micky van de Ven was brought down by Ethan Ampadu in Leeds’ half after what looked like a clear foul.

After going down, van de Ven grabbed the ball expecting the free kick to be given. However, the referee instead ruled in Leeds’ favour and awarded them a free kick for handball, believing the original challenge was not a foul.

From a Spurs point of view, the decision felt difficult to understand because the contact on van de Ven appeared clear. It also felt like a missed opportunity in an important moment, as Tottenham could have used the free kick to put pressure on Leeds late in the game.

That moment added to the frustration around the stadium, especially as Spurs were pushing for a late winner that could have moved them further away from the relegation zone. Instead, play continued in Leeds’ favour, and for many Tottenham fans, that hurt so much because it felt like another big decision had gone against them.

What’s next for Spurs?

There is no doubt that the Lilywhites will feel disappointed not to have taken all three points because they were the stronger side for large parts of the match. With better finishing in key moments, Spurs could easily have ended the night with a valuable win.

Despite the frustration, Tottenham are still two points above the relegation zone with only two games left to play. Their next match is a difficult trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, but there is still a strong belief inside the squad and even the fans themselves heading into that match as Chelsea are currently on a poor run of form in the Premier League.

After facing the Blues, De Zerbi’s side will return home for their final game of the season against Everton, while WestHam still have difficult matches against Newcastle United and Leeds United still to play.