Tottenham v Newcastle shock as Andy Gray calls for Premier League to take action
Andy Gray has called for the Premier League to take action after Newcastle United’s equaliser was allowed to stand against Tottenham on Saturday.
Lucas Bergvall’s attempted pass to the right flank was blocked by Joelinton, with replays showing the ball hitting the player’s hand before passing the ball onto Anthony Gordon, who scored.
While the Premier League explained via the PLMatchCentre X account why VAR had not chalked the goal off, the controversial moment caused outrage on social media, and even in the beIN Sports studio.
Speaking live via beIN Sports [4 January, 1:25pm], Richard Keys said: “The definitive on this is – unintentional and didn’t lead directly to a goal. If that drops directly to Joelinton and he scores, handball.”
Gray said: “To me, that’s nonsense. If he hadn’t handballed it, there wouldn’t have been a goal. Handball, one pass later, goal. If you tell me that handball hasn’t led directly to a goal, I’m not having it.”
Keys said: “I would agree with you but I have to accept what the law says,” to which Gray replied: “Please, change the wording because it did lead directly to a goal. But it is still their fault for playing out from the back.”
Tottenham robbed by VAR in Newcastle United defeat?
Following the rules word-for-word, VAR was never going to disallow Gordon’s goal for a handball on Joelinton, but it is easy to understand why there is such outrage from the supporters.
VAR’s intervention seems to be more of a running theme at Hotspur Way in recent weeks but that cannot be used as the only excuse for the poor run of results.
Ange Postecoglou is walking closer and closer to being sacked by Daniel Levy, with Spurs now facing four consecutive matches without a win, in which time they have conceded 11 goals.
With Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies and Guglielmo Vicario all sidelined, expectations should not be as high against difficult opposition.
Because of a lack of reinforcements, Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin have been the trusted centre-back partnership, and with the latter going off at half-time, Djed Spence was pushed into the middle.
In other Tottenham news, Timo Werner was absolutely dreadful in a 3/10 display v Newcastle United.
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