Tottenham will file an official protest to Pro Ref over Jayden Bogle’s unpunished challenge on Mathys Tel in the defeat to Leeds.
The 26‑year‑old escaped any sanction after his studs struck Tel’s ankle in the first half.
Spurs say the referee should have shown a red and intend to write to Pro Ref for an explanation.
Although VAR reviewed the incident, referee John Brooks never went to the pitch‑side monitor, leaving Bogle untouched.
Ex‑Premier League assistant Darren Cann called the Leeds defender “lucky” to avoid dismissal.
With under nine minutes left in the half, Spurs’ momentum and composure faded fast.
De Zerbi’s side never recovered; after the break Leeds outworked and outplayed them.
Still, the Italian, perhaps buoyed by his team’s rise up the table, refused to blame the referee for Spurs’ woes.
“We deserved to lose the second half and didn’t play our best,” he told TNT Sports. “It’s a journey and we can learn from this match.”
“I’m sorry for the second‑half display – we weren’t a top‑team. We lacked character and physicality,” he added.
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“We have full confidence in the referee and VAR”
When Elland Road’s PA announced a VAR check, a red card for Bogle seemed inevitable.
The Leeds defender went full‑blooded after Tel, appearing ready to follow Crystal Palace’s Jean‑Philippe Mateta, who was sent off for a similar challenge last weekend.
Oddly, Brooks never approached the pitch‑side monitor to review the incident.
Thus the four‑minute review was handled solely by the VAR hub at Stockley Park.
“They’ve said no red card, and that will spark debate,” former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Because Brooks didn’t initially caution Bogle, the defender walked away unpunished.
“I have great confidence in the referee. Nothing changes if he goes to the monitor,” De Zerbi said. “If the decision was wrong I don’t know. We must focus on improving our performance.”
Early in the second half, Spurs’ frustration – likely fed by Bogle’s escape – boiled over as Pedro Porro and De Zerbi were booked together after a challenge by the Spanish defender.
“Calling Porro’s yellow ‘incredible’ after what happened in the first half,” De Zerbi said.
“I was surprised by the yellow for Porro because it was clear,” the Italian told BBC Match of the Day. “I can’t say the potential red card.”
“We have full confidence in the referee and VAR. I have nothing more to add,” he added.
Was Bogle lucky to escape a red card?
Bogle was undeniably fortunate to avoid even a booking.
The foul unfolded oddly: Bogle set his right foot to challenge Tel, then planted his left foot on the striker’s ankle.
At full speed the contact looked harmless, likely why Brooks opted not to issue a card after the foul.
Slow‑motion replays, however, revealed a nasty twist of the ankle, making the contact look ugly.
That could have prompted VAR chief Tony Harrington to send Brooks to the monitor for an on‑field red‑card review.
Harrington lingered over the footage, perhaps feeling he had time while Tel received treatment, but lengthy reviews only fuel doubts.
Eventually Harrington told Brooks: “I’m confirming the on‑field decision of no red card. There was a lack of speed into the challenge and he stepped into it – a reckless challenge.”
A reckless challenge warrants a yellow, and VAR cannot intervene to order a booking. In my view, the system failed to protect players.
Harrington also highlighted the phrase “stepping into the challenge.”
It doesn’t rule out a dismissal, yet such tackles are less likely to trigger a VAR red‑card review because they involve less force.
How does this compare with Mateta’s VAR‑issued red card against Spurs last week?
One could argue Mateta, booked on‑field, made less forceful contact on Micky van de Ven’s ankle, yet the nature of the challenge differs.
Mateta executed a lunging, studs‑first tackle, typically viewed as higher‑force and more dangerous.
Still, even if Bogle wasn’t truly challenging, the ugly contact leaves many convinced a VAR red‑card review was warranted.