Ref watch: Three John Brooks blunders from Leeds United vs Tottenham

Referee John Brooks made three controversial decisions in Leeds' 1-0 loss to Tottenham: a missed handball penalty, Jayden Bogle avoiding a card for a challenge that VAR reviewed for red, and Pedro Porro not sent off despite a second bookable offence.

John Brooks officiated Leeds United vs Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on 7 November, a match decided by Noah Okafor's 79th-minute goal. The performance drew significant criticism for three major refereeing errors.

In the fifth minute, Mateus Fernandes handled the ball while attempting to chest it back to his goalkeeper, but Brooks and VAR failed to award a penalty despite replays clearly showing contact with his arm. In the 34th minute, Jayden Bogle escaped without punishment for a challenge on Mathys Tel that VAR reviewed at length for a potential straight red card—the same deliberation that led to the review made the absence of any sanction baffling. Most egregiously, Pedro Porro, already on a yellow card, committed a cynical trip on Lukas Nmecha just outside the penalty area in the second half but was not sent off, despite the clear second bookable offence.