James Maddison ‘To Be Charged by FA’ For Actions During West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
James Maddison could soon find himself in hot water with the Football Association after an ill-timed social media post made during Tottenham Hotspur’s recent victory over West Ham United. According to former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett, the England international’s comments directed at referees and VAR are likely to trigger disciplinary action.
Tottenham, now under the leadership of Thomas Frank and entering their first matches of the post-Daniel Levy era, continued their encouraging start to the season with a commanding 3-0 triumph at the London Stadium. Goals in the second half from Pape Matar Sarr, summer signing Lucas Bergvall, and defender Micky van de Ven secured the three points for the visitors, underlining their growing confidence under Frank.
However, the match was not without controversy. Less than 20 minutes into the first half, Cristian Romero appeared to have given Spurs the lead when he rose highest to meet a corner and powered home a header. To the shock of many, the goal was disallowed after referee Jarred Gillett deemed Romero to have fouled his marker in the process. The decision left Tottenham’s players, fans, and even sections of the media baffled.
Among the most vocal critics was James Maddison. Despite currently sidelined with a serious injury, the midfielder wasted little time venting his frustration on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He wrote:
“Honestly the referees & VAR have had an absolute shocker of a start to the season. If that goal is disallowed for a foul you will never ever see a corner be taken without referee blowing for something ever again.”
Such a public condemnation of officiating rarely goes unnoticed by the governing bodies, and Hackett has now suggested that Maddison’s remarks could well lead to disciplinary measures.
“I hope that we never stop players from expressing their opinion. I actually agree with Maddison’s assessment that refereeing standards have not been at the level expected so far this season,” Hackett told reporters. “But there’s a line between fair comment and undermining the authority of referees. I would expect the FA to take action here, because they are closely monitoring what players say on social media at all levels of the game.”
The FA has a track record of cracking down on comments aimed at referees and VAR. Nottingham Forest, for example, were hit with a £750,000 fine last season after the club publicly accused referee Stuart Attwell of bias following their defeat to Everton. Although Maddison’s case is not on the same scale as a club-wide statement, his high profile as both a Premier League star and an England international means the FA may feel compelled to set an example.
Fortunately for Spurs, any potential punishment is unlikely to include a playing ban. Maddison, 28, is already facing an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering another anterior cruciate ligament injury during Tottenham’s pre-season. The midfielder has since undergone surgery, and while no definitive recovery timeline has been confirmed, club insiders suggest that spring 2026 is the earliest realistic date for his return.
That means Maddison’s priority remains his rehabilitation rather than on-pitch matters. Still, a fine or formal warning would be an unwanted distraction during a period where the player should be focused entirely on getting fit again. Tottenham, meanwhile, will hope the situation does not create further noise around what has otherwise been a promising start to Frank’s tenure.
For Maddison, the episode serves as a reminder of the scrutiny that comes with being a top-flight footballer. While fans and pundits may echo his frustrations with refereeing standards, players airing such views publicly almost always invite repercussions.