Tottenham to file formal complaint over Bogle tackle that forced Tel off injured

Tottenham Hotspur will submit a formal complaint to Pro Ref after Leeds United defender Jayden Bogle avoided a red card during Spurs’ 1-0 defeat at Elland Road, a result that left the club seeking an official explanation from English football’s refereeing body.

Bogle lunged into a challenge on Spurs forward Mathys Tel and landed on Tel’s ankle with his left foot. Referee John Brooks awarded a foul but issued no card. The Video Assistant Referee Tony Harrington then spent four minutes reviewing the incident before deciding against sending Brooks to the pitchside monitor — ruling the challenge “reckless” rather than serious foul play, which left Bogle on the pitch without further punishment.

Tel received treatment on the field before eventually being forced off with a lingering issue to his Achilles, raising the stakes of the complaint for Spurs, who believe the challenge merited a dismissal.

The decision drew sharper scrutiny given the context of recent weeks. Just seven days earlier, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off for a challenge Spurs considered comparable in their win over the Eagles. Later in the same game at Elland Road, Tottenham’s Pedro Porro was shown a yellow card for a foul that manager Roberto De Zerbi felt was no worse than Bogle’s.

“I was surprised on the yellow card for Pedro Porro because it was clear,” De Zerbi said after the match. “The potential red card, I couldn’t say. We have full confidence in the referee and VAR. I cannot say nothing more.”

De Zerbi also suggested the outcome would not have changed had Brooks consulted the monitor. “I have big confidence in the referee. Nothing changes if he goes to the monitor,” he said. “If they didn’t take the right decision I don’t know. We have to keep the eyes on the performance where we can improve.”

Tottenham’s complaint to Pro Ref is a formal request for explanation rather than an appeal — the result at Elland Road stands — but it underlines the club’s frustration with a series of refereeing calls they believe have gone against them in recent fixtures.