De Zerbi focuses on Tottenham’s shortcomings after Leeds defeat as Bogle avoids red card

The flashpoint was clear; the verdict was not. Jayden Bogle stayed on the pitch after a lengthy VAR review of his challenge on Mathys Tel, while Tottenham left Elland Road with a 1-0 defeat and Roberto De Zerbi refusing to make the officials his main explanation.

The incident came with the match still goalless. Bogle caught Tel with his studs, and the review lasted more than four minutes. Referee John Brooks was not sent to the pitchside monitor, and no further action was taken. Tel, however, could not continue after bruising his left foot.

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren McCann said Bogle was “fortunate” to escape dismissal, arguing the challenge endangered an opponent’s safety. The decision will invite debate, especially as Tottenham appeared to have the better of the contest before play stopped.

But De Zerbi did not use the moment to excuse what followed. Tottenham’s momentum and composure faded, and the visitors struggled to respond after the break. The defeat ended their run without a Premier League loss since September and denied them the chance to make it four consecutive league wins for the first time since October 2023.

“We deserved to lose the game in the second half and didn’t play like we can,” De Zerbi told TNT Sports. “It’s a journey for us because we can learn from this game.” He also said he was sorry for the second-half performance, adding that his side lacked the character and physicality of a top team.

That measured response stood out amid the argument over Bogle’s challenge. De Zerbi said he had “big confidence” in the referee, while acknowledging he did not know whether the right decision had been made. His focus, he said, had to remain on where Tottenham could improve.

The officiating remained a talking point after the interval. Pedro Porro and De Zerbi were both booked following a challenge by the Tottenham defender. De Zerbi called Porro’s yellow card “incredible”, but drew a distinction between that decision and Bogle’s incident: “The potential red card, I couldn’t say.”

The VAR explanation, as outlined in the source, was that Bogle was stepping into the challenge and there was a lack of speed. The on-field decision of no red card was confirmed; the review could not be used to add a yellow card that Brooks had not shown.

So the question over Bogle’s challenge will linger. Yet De Zerbi’s post-match message was also pointed: whatever Tottenham made of the call, their second-half display was not good enough. Leeds took the win, and Spurs were left with both a refereeing debate and a performance to examine.