De Zerbi focuses on Spurs' failings - but should Bogle have seen red?

De Zerbi refused to blame officials after Spurs' 1-0 loss to Leeds, despite Jayden Bogle escaping a red card for a challenge that injured Mathys Tel.

Tottenham suffered their first Premier League defeat since September when they lost 1-0 to Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday. The match was overshadowed by a controversial incident in the first half when Leeds defender Jayden Bogle caught Spurs forward Mathys Tel with his studs. After a four-minute VAR review conducted entirely at Stockley Park without referee John Brooks consulting the pitchside monitor, Bogle was not sent off despite meeting the criteria for serious foul play. Former Premier League assistant referee Darren McCann said Bogle was "fortunate" not to be dismissed, and the challenge left Tel unable to continue with a bruising foot injury.

De Zerbi took a measured approach in his post-match comments, refusing to focus on the refereeing decision. "We deserved to lose the game in the second half and didn't play like we can," he said. "I am sorry for the performance in the second half - we didn't play like a top team." Spurs never recovered their momentum after the incident and were outrun and outplayed by Leeds in the second half. The frustration boiled over early in the second half when defender Pedro Porro was booked, prompting De Zerbi to describe the decision as "incredible" given what had transpired earlier.