Mathys Tel limps off after Bogle stamp goes unpunished in four-minute VAR review at Leeds

Tottenham were dealt a fresh attacking injury blow when Mathys Tel limped off in the 43rd minute of their match at Leeds, after a stamp from Jayden Bogle went unpunished despite a lengthy VAR review that lasted more than four minutes.

Bogle caught Tel on the ankle with his studs in a challenge that referee John Brooks did not even caution initially. VAR Tony Harrington reviewed the incident at length before instructing Brooks to stick with his on-field decision, leaving the right wing-back without any punishment.

The Premier League Match Centre confirmed the outcome, quoting Harrington’s message to Brooks: “I’m confirming the on-field decision of no red card. There’s a lack of speed going into the challenge and he’s stepping into the tackle. Confirming a reckless challenge.”

The decision drew immediate scrutiny given its similarity to the challenge for which Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta was shown a red card following a VAR review when Spurs played Palace the previous weekend.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi was visibly frustrated with the verdict. Tel attempted to play through the pain for five minutes before signalling to the bench that he could not continue, and was replaced by Dominic Solanke — who had been dropped from the starting line-up after the Palace win.

The injury compounds an already severe attacking crisis at Spurs. Savio and Mykhailo Mudryk are sidelined until after the international break, while Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are both recovering from serious knee injuries and are not expected back until after the turn of the year.

Tel had been in impressive form before the setback, most notably scoring a stunning solo goal in Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Chelsea on 24 October — the club’s first victory at Stamford Bridge since 2018. The extent of his ankle injury is not yet known.