De Zerbi Questions Referees’ Composure After Spurs Draw With Leeds

• Roberto De Zerbi suggested Premier League officials were affected by the fallout from Arsenal’s controversial win over West Ham.
• Tottenham were held to a tense 1-1 draw with Leeds after two major VAR interventions in north London.
• De Zerbi welcomed James Maddison’s emotional return from long-term injury as Spurs edged closer to survival.

Roberto De Zerbi stood in front of the cameras frustrated, animated and clearly unconvinced by the officiating that shaped Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Monday night.

In a weekend where VAR dominated discussion across the Premier League, the Spurs head coach hinted that referees were carrying the weight of recent controversy into another high-pressure encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham twice found themselves at the centre of decisive video reviews in a result that leaves them two points above the relegation zone with only two matches remaining.

The first incident arrived after Mathys Tel attempted an acrobatic clearance inside the penalty area but caught Ethan Ampadu instead of the ball. Referee Jarred Gillett initially waved play on before VAR official Craig Pawson advised him to review the challenge on the monitor. A penalty was subsequently awarded.

Then came another dramatic moment deep into stoppage time. Leeds believed they should have had a second penalty after Daniel James went down under a challenge from Lukas Nmecha. This time, despite appeals from the visitors, VAR declined to recommend an on-field review after determining there had been contact with the ball.

De Zerbi was careful not to launch into outright condemnation, but his irritation was obvious.

“From the first minute until the end of the game, the referee went to me, ‘if you go out of the technical area then it’ll be a yellow card,’” he said afterwards.

“I think they were not calm today. Maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday. The Arsenal game, the VAR.”

The Italian then referenced Arsenal’s controversial victory over West Ham on Sunday, where a late equaliser was ruled out after VAR intervention.

“I can’t understand the complaining about yesterday in VAR because David Raya was fouled 200%, not 100%, 200%,” De Zerbi added.

Tottenham themselves looked tense for long periods. Their play lacked the fluidity and aggression that had defined recent performances under De Zerbi, particularly during important spells in possession.

“For sure, we suffered the pressure today,” he admitted. “We didn’t play with passion with the ball. We were rushing.”

Yet amid the frustration there was one moment that lifted the atmosphere around the club. James Maddison returned to competitive action after more than a year sidelined by two serious knee injuries.

The midfielder’s introduction brought a different rhythm to Tottenham’s attacking play and reminded everyone of the quality they have missed.

“Great news for us,” De Zerbi said. “He is a different player as a quality, as a guy and he will be, I hope, crucial for us.”

The Spurs manager revealed he had spoken to Maddison before the game about carefully managing his minutes, only for the midfielder to exceed expectations physically and emotionally.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke, who coached Maddison during his early development at Norwich City, spoke warmly about the England international afterwards.

“If you love football, then you love James Maddison because he’s a pure baller for me,” Farke said.

“One of the most creative and gifted midfield players in England.”

Farke’s admiration extended beyond the technical side of Maddison’s game. He described him as an “even better human being” and admitted he was delighted simply to see the player back on the pitch after such a long absence.

Tottenham’s survival battle remains delicately poised. They travel to Chelsea next week knowing there is still little margin for error, especially with West Ham continuing to fight below them.

But if Maddison can contribute in the closing weeks, De Zerbi may feel Spurs have regained something they have lacked for much of the season: composure when the pressure rises.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

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