MusaFormer Premier League referee Mike Dean has delivered a strong verdict on the controversial challenge by Jayden Bogle that left Mathys Tel injured during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 defeat to Leeds United, insisting the Leeds defender should have been shown a straight red card.
Tel was forced to leave the pitch shortly before half-time at Elland Road after being caught by Bogle in a challenge that appeared to make contact with the back of his Achilles. The Tottenham forward was unable to continue and was subsequently replaced by Dominic Solanke.
Despite the nature of the challenge and the injury suffered by the Spurs attacker, Bogle escaped without even receiving a yellow card. Remarkably, the Leeds defender remained on the pitch until the third minute of second-half stoppage time, when he was eventually substituted.
The incident immediately sparked controversy, particularly because VAR official Tony Harrington had sufficient time to examine the challenge while Tel received treatment on the pitch. However, after reviewing the available footage, Harrington decided to uphold referee John Brooks’ original decision, refusing to recommend an on-field review.
That decision has since attracted criticism, with Mike Dean becoming one of the prominent voices questioning why Bogle was allowed to escape punishment.
Speaking while working on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, the former Premier League referee was convinced that the challenge deserved the highest possible sanction.
Dean said: “It is 100% a red; he has caught him right down the back of the Achilles.”
He continued by questioning the nature of Bogle’s challenge, adding: “It is not a good tackle at all. I would be astounded if John Brooks is not sent to the screen.”
Dean was not alone in his assessment, as former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann also expressed his belief that the Leeds defender was fortunate not to receive his marching orders.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Cann explained that Bogle’s challenge carried considerable danger for Tel and should have resulted in a dismissal.
He said: “Jayden Bogle was, in my opinion, very fortunate to escape a red card for a challenge on Mathys Tel.”
Agreeing with Dean’s assessment, Cann highlighted the point of contact, explaining that Bogle had stood on the back of Tel’s Achilles during the challenge.
He also compared the incident with Ryan Sessegnon’s red-card challenge for Fulham against Hull City a few weeks earlier, suggesting that the two situations shared similar characteristics.
According to Cann, Bogle’s actions met the requirements for serious foul play because the challenge endangered the safety of an opponent. He believes the Leeds defender was extremely fortunate to remain on the pitch.
Cann further questioned the outcome of the VAR assessment, particularly given the amount of time available to the officials to examine the incident while Tel received lengthy treatment.
However, despite the opportunity to take a closer look, VAR ultimately concluded that the challenge did not reach the required threshold for a red card.
The Premier League Match Centre also provided an explanation on X at half-time, confirming that the decision had been checked and upheld.
In its statement, the Match Centre wrote: “The referee’s call of no red card to Bogle for the challenge on Tel was checked and confirmed by VAR.”
An explanation attributed to the VAR official also revealed the reasoning behind the decision.
The official reportedly said there was insufficient speed in Bogle’s approach and that the defender appeared to step into the challenge. The incident was ultimately classified as a reckless challenge rather than one warranting a straight red card.
Nevertheless, the explanation has done little to end the growing debate surrounding the incident, especially among Tottenham supporters who believe their side was denied a potentially important decision.
The controversy is now expected to move beyond the immediate reaction from supporters, with Tottenham reportedly preparing to submit a formal complaint over the decision.
The North London club believe Bogle should have been dismissed for the challenge and are planning to contact Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), through its Pro Ref process, to seek clarification over how the incident was assessed.
Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi was asked about the controversial moment during his appearance on Match of the Day.
However, rather than openly criticising the match officials, the Italian chose to remain cautious when discussing whether Bogle deserved to be sent off.
De Zerbi said: “The potential red card, I couldn’t say. We have full confidence in the referee and VAR. I cannot say nothing more.”
His response was considerably more restrained than the criticism coming from former officials, with Dean and Cann both making their positions clear.
With Tottenham reportedly preparing to seek an explanation, attention will now turn towards whether the club receives further clarification over the decision that allowed Bogle to escape a red card despite the challenge leaving Tel unable to continue.
Musa
