Maddera could hold it, slams ‘Absolute Shocker’ VAR Decision

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank could hardly contain his frustration on the touchline during his side’s trip to West Ham United after seeing Cristian Romero’s early headed goal controversially ruled out. The Argentine thought he had put Spurs in front inside 20 minutes, only for referee Jarred Gillett to chalk it off amid chaotic scenes in the penalty area. Now, the Premier League has explained the decision – but injured playmaker James Maddison has made it clear that he is far from impressed.

 

The Incident

 

The flashpoint arrived in the 19th minute when Mohammed Kudus whipped in a corner that caused mayhem inside the six-yard box. Romero reacted quickest, powering a header past Mads Hermansen to spark celebrations among the traveling Spurs supporters. But those cheers quickly turned to groans when referee Gillett blew his whistle almost immediately, ruling that Micky van de Ven had fouled West Ham defender Kyle Walker-Peters in the build-up.

 

Unconvinced himself, Gillett paused to check with the VAR team at Stockley Park. After reviewing the footage, the VAR confirmed his on-field decision, leaving Tottenham still searching for a breakthrough and their players visibly furious. Romero, flanked by several teammates in white shirts, marched up to the official demanding clarity, but the verdict stood: no goal.

 

Premier League’s Explanation

 

Within minutes, the Premier League Match Centre attempted to calm the storm by issuing a statement on X (formerly Twitter). They explained:

 

> “The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Van de Ven pushed Walker-Peters in the back and impacted his ability to play the ball.”

 

 

 

However, the video footage told a different story for many observers. Replays, circulated by Sky Sports, appeared to show minimal contact from Van de Ven. If anything, Walker-Peters seemed more engaged in grappling with Romero, while Spurs’ Dutch defender was himself being impeded by West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and goalkeeper Hermansen.

 

Thomas Frank’s Fury

 

The decision left Frank fuming on the touchline. The Dane, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou over the summer, gestured angrily towards the fourth official and was seen shaking his head in disbelief. For a manager trying to steady the ship after a mixed start to the season, moments like these only added to his frustration. Frank later hinted that such calls risk undermining the integrity of competitive football if officials continue to penalize such innocuous contact.

 

Maddison’s Outrage

 

One of the loudest voices of dissent came from James Maddison, who is currently sidelined with a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up in pre-season. Watching from afar, the England international vented his fury on social media, branding the decision another example of refereeing inconsistency.

 

Maddison 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.”

 

 

 

His comments struck a chord with many Spurs fans who felt their side had been robbed of a legitimate goal in a crucial London derby.

 

Wider Implications

 

For Tottenham, the timing of the decision was particularly damaging. Frank’s side had already suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth before the September international break, and another setback against a bitter rival could hinder their momentum as they look to climb the Premier League table.

 

The disallowed goal also raises broader concerns about VAR’s role in modern football. While introduced to reduce human error, it continues to spark controversy over subjective decisions, particularly in penalty-box incidents where pushing, shoving, and jostling are commonplace.

 

Conclusion

 

As the dust settles, both Frank and Maddison – along with the Spurs faithful – are united in feeling aggrieved. To them, Romero’s effort was a perfectly valid goal unfairly taken away. Whether the controversy will ultimately prove decisive in the outcome of the match remains to be seen, but the fallout has once again shone a harsh light on refereeing standards and the growing frustration surrounding VAR in the Premier League.