Tottenham: Why James Maddison was not awarded a penalty against Leeds as Premier League issue statement

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·12 May 2026

Tottenham: Why James Maddison was not awarded a penalty against Leeds as Premier League issue statement

Spurs midfielder denied a big moment on his return from injury

The Premier League has explained why Tottenham were not awarded a penalty in their draw against Leeds.

OneFootball Videos

As the clock ticked into a 13th minute of stoppage time in north London on Monday night, James Maddison - on his return from injury - went over in the area after feeling contact from Lukas Nmecha.

With the score level at 1-1, all eyes inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - and West Ham fans watching from afar - were locked onto referee Jarred Gillett for his decision.

Gillett’s on-field decision was that of no penalty, and that was checked and cleared by VAR, thus denying Spurs a chance to win the game right at the death and move four points clear of the relegation zone.

The Premier League’s Match Centre have since now confirmed that no penalty was awarded because the Leeds forward played the ball.

A statement reads: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Tottenham Hotspur was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Nmecha played the ball.”

VAR review: Jarred Gillett

PA

Midway through the second half, VAR intervened to overturn Gillett’s original decision of no penalty for Leeds after Ethan Ampadu was caught in the head by the boot of Mathys Tel.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin made no mistake from the spot to earn a point for the visitors, though Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi hit out at the officiating during the game.

“The first minute until the end of the game the referee went to me, ‘if you go out, yellow card,’ and I think they were not calm today,” he said.

"Maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday the West Ham-Arsenal game and VAR. For sure, we suffered the pressure today for the speed of the ball, for the order on the pitch and we didn’t play with patience.

"Frenetic and we were rushed, but also the referee was not calm. I don’t know, I can’t understand the polemic about yesterday’s VAR because it was a foul, 200 per cent, not 100 per cent, if you want to talk about football."