Credit: Imago

Jacob Raw

Sat 17 January 2026 20:10, UK

Thomas Frank’s future at Tottenham may have been decided by a VAR howler.

Spurs lost 2-1 to West Ham on Saturday in a Premier League showdown which had a great deal of significance for managers of either side.

Nuno Espirito Santo was the one to walk away with a smile on his face, though, as Callum Wilson profited upon Tottenham‘s horrific defensive setup to poke home a stoppage-time winner.

Boos rang around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at full-time, as Frank is under increasing pressure to turn things around at N17.

However, a lack of professionalism by the officials on VAR may be the true reason why the Lewis Family may sack Frank.

Keith Hackett claims Tottenham should have been awarded late penalty vs West Ham

One positive that Tottenham have had under Frank is scoring goals through set-pieces, as Cristian Romero’s second-half header gave the Lilywhites hope.

But at the end of the day, Spurs’ defending from opposition set-pieces proved to be Frank’s kryptonite once more.

• Wilson scored just two minutes after coming on
• His goal had an xG of 0.70, as Spurs allowed the ball to land at the strikers feet too easily
• Tottenham now concede 1.30 goals per match

But before Wilson’s winner, Tottenham had a penalty shout after Conor Gallagher’s surging run was cut off by the hand of West Ham’s Ollie Scarles inside the Hammers’ penalty box.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett offered insight into his thoughts on the incident, claiming that VAR should have allowed Jarred Gillett to review the handball.

Hackett said: “Well, the hand of the player who has made contact with the ball cannot possibly be defined as being in a natural position.

“He appears to reach out for it, and VAR should have determined that by not awarding a penalty kick. The referee has made a clear and obvious error.

“VAR should have intervened to allow the referee to visit the monitor to make the call. Handballs do have a great deal of subjectivity, so let the referee decide, not someone in front of a screen, making an important and, in my opinion, wrong decision.”

• Read more: Tottenham have player with ‘great heights’ there for taking after latest Richarlison update

Key possession stat shows Thomas Frank’s flaws at Tottenham

It goes without saying, but Frank is now in troubled waters at Tottenham.

Nuno rocked back up to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium under pressure just like the Spurs boss, but kept his cool and delivered for West Ham.

For all of Spurs’ 62 per cent possession against West Ham, they struggled to create clear-cut chances, and were trumped by the Hammers’ expected goals tally of 2.69

There isn’t enough intent from the Lilywhites at the moment, and that ultimately falls back on Frank.

The problems have shown from day one, but now it looks like the Tottenham players don’t know what to do on the field, which is telling on Frank’s future at N17.

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