Leeds United were left frustrated during their dramatic 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur after another controversial VAR decision dominated the headlines in north London on Monday night.
The incident came during the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin appeared to be pulled down inside the penalty area by Spurs defender Destiny Udogie. Referee Jarred Gillett initially looked set to award a penalty, but VAR intervened after semi-automated offside technology ruled Calvert-Lewin marginally offside in the build-up.
The decision sparked immediate debate among pundits, with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher questioning why the Premier League’s previously used “tolerance rule” was not applied in Leeds’ favour.
Speaking on Sky Sports at half-time, Carragher argued that the offside call was so tight that VAR could have allowed play to continue under the same interpretation used earlier this season in a controversial Liverpool incident involving Florian Wirtz.
Carragher said:
“It’s tight, the offside. I think they would have given that penalty; that is why VAR looked at it. He has two hands on him at one stage, and then he pulls him down.
“The reason I look at this, semi-automated decision, it went. I go to the Wirtz one at Fulham, where the five-centimetre give or take came in.
“I think if that is onside then Leeds have a penalty because there is a clear tug on Calvert-Lewin by Udogie.”
The former England defender was referring to Liverpool’s clash against Fulham earlier in the campaign, when Wirtz was initially flagged offside before VAR overturned the decision using the Premier League’s semi-automated system and the so-called “thicker lines” margin for extremely close calls.
That ruling caused significant controversy at the time, with many supporters believing Wirtz had clearly moved beyond the final defender. However, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel later backed the VAR team, stating the intervention was correct because of the “tight margin” involved.
Because of that earlier precedent, Carragher believes Leeds can feel hard done by after Monday’s incident.
The controversial moment added to an evening already packed with tension as Tottenham’s relegation fears deepened. Spurs had taken the lead early in the second half through a stunning strike from Mathys Tel, but the young forward later conceded a penalty after catching Ethan Ampadu with a high boot inside the box. Calvert-Lewin converted from the spot to rescue a point for Leeds.
The 1-1 draw leaves Tottenham still dangerously close to the relegation zone with only two Premier League matches remaining. Leeds, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run and continued to frustrate Spurs in a nervy encounter dominated by VAR discussions and controversial officiating.
