Tottenham furious at late VAR twist in chaotic Newcastle draw

December 3, 2025 Oliver Obel

Tottenham left St James’ Park with a point, but their frustration was clear. A late VAR review resulted in a penalty for Newcastle in the 82nd minute, a decision that stunned the Spurs players and prompted the Premier League to issue an explanation shortly after the final whistle.

The match had already been turbulent. Newcastle went ahead through Bruno Guimaraes in the 71st minute, and Cristian Romero equalised a few minutes later. The stage was set for a tight finish even before the major incident unfolded.

VAR intervention changes the atmosphere

Play came to an abrupt halt during a Newcastle corner when the video assistant asked referee Thomas Bramall to review a collision at the back post. Supporters inside the ground were unsure what had been spotted, and the delay added to the tension.

According to the Premier League’s Match Centre account on X, the review focused on Rodrigo Bentancur and Dan Burn becoming tangled as the ball was delivered. Both players went to the ground, and many in the stadium viewed it as typical contact during a crowded set piece.

After watching the footage, Bramall overturned his original decision. The Match Centre post included the referee’s explanation, stating: “After review, Tottenham number 30 makes a holding offence at the back post and clearly does not look at the ball. My final decision is penalty kick.”

Reactions from pundits and players

The ruling immediately drew criticism. Jamie Carragher described it as “harsh” during Sky Sports coverage of the match. Rio Ferdinand was even stronger in his response on social media, calling the decision “disgraceful” and suggesting the officials involved should feel “ashamed.”

Anthony Gordon scored from the spot to restore Newcastle’s lead. Tottenham responded quickly when Romero, already on the scoresheet, attempted an overhead effort after Aaron Ramsdale failed to claim a looping ball. The strike bounced awkwardly into the net, silencing the home crowd.

Tottenham call for clearer standards

The match ended without further drama, but Tottenham’s frustration did not fade. Defender Kevin Danso said afterward that the decision felt “tough” to accept because the level of contact allowed at set pieces seems to change from week to week. He added that “some weeks a ref will give it and some weeks they will not.”

Tottenham left the North East feeling that the penalty would not have been awarded in many other matches, while Newcastle were relieved to escape with a draw after a chaotic final spell.

Sources: Reuters, Sky Sports, Premier League Match Centre.