Spurs news: Thomas Frank claims referee inconsistency amid controversial Newcastle penalty

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Evening Standard

·2 December 2025

Spurs news: Thomas Frank claims referee inconsistency amid controversial Newcastle penalty

Spurs are now five games without a win

Thomas Frank hit out at the decision to award a penalty against Rodrigo Bentancur, claiming even someone from the Newcastle camp told him the decision was incorrect.

Spurs showed a much-needed response after a week in which they were beaten three times, twice coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at St James' Park.

Bruno Guimaraes opened the scoring with 20 minutes remaining, before Cristian Romero scored the first of his two goals with a brilliant header.

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Newcastle's lead was restored from the spot in controversial circumstances. Their appeals for a penalty on Dan Burn were initially waved away, but the referee was told to look at the pitchside monitor and after a review deemed that Bentancur had wrestled him to the ground.

Micky Van de Ven and Lucas Bergvall were among those to confront the fourth official on the touchline and Frank was similarly frustrated with the decision.

"The second one is very disappointing to concede because for me it's never a penalty," Frank said.

"Even speaking to someone from Newcastle, who didn't think it's a penalty. We need the consistency.

"Because that penalty, that would be given two times a game. And I think the referee call on the pitch nailed it. And VAR can only be if it's clear and obvious."

Despite that Anthony Gordon penalty, Spurs still returned to London with a point thanks to their captain.

Deep into stoppage-time, the ball looped up from a corner and Romero, initially on the ground, got up to produce an overhead kick that bobbled through everyone and past Aaron Ramsdale.

"The perfect bicycle kick, hit the shin, aiming for the bottom corner," Frank said.

"I think let's start praising Cuti, I think he deserved that for all of the top performance, defending, on the ball, coolness, calmness, duels.

"Then getting up there and scoring two goals. I think the bicycle kick will most likely get a little bit more praise, but I think the header is more exceptional, the way he does that is better than many strikers.

Tottenham conceded 11 goals across defeats to Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Fulham last week, piling the pressure on Frank.

It is still only three wins in 14 matches, but the Spurs boss was proud of how his side fought back to ensure it was not a fourth straight defeat.

"I really liked the character, the mentality in the team, what they showed after three tough games, I think it's been," Frank said.

"To go here, the fourth game in 10 days, the third away game, very difficult place, going down two times, being behind two times, and come back, it shows everything about the willingness and the mentality in the team."