Frank and Pundits Condemn “Mistake” Penalty Call

ENGLAND : Tottenham Hotspur salvaged a dramatic point thanks to Cristian Romero’s spectacular 95th-minute overhead kick, securing a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United. However, the post-match discussion was dominated by controversy over an 86th-minute penalty decision that Tottenham boss Thomas Frank labelled an “absolute mistake.”

The incident occurred when referee Thomas Bramall was instructed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review footage of Rodrigo Bentancur grappling with Newcastle defender Dan Burn during a corner. Though the referee initially waved play on, Bentancur was penalized after the review, allowing Anthony Gordon to convert the spot-kick and put Newcastle ahead 2-1.

“It was an absolute mistake from the VAR,” Frank stated firmly. “The referee did good to do the ref call and they encourage the refereeing call on the pitch. For me, that is never a penalty. We need consistency.”

The decision was swiftly criticized by former players and analysts across the board, who felt the contact was routine for corner-kick scenarios.

Former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen argued, “You’re giving a penalty every single game if you’re giving a penalty for that.” Ex-Premier League striker Clinton Morrison urged VAR to “just stay out of it,” noting, “He’s just standing his ground and not looking at it.”

Even former Manchester City defender Micah Richards, while acknowledging Bentancur was “not looking at the ball,” felt the holding was “not enough,” concluding that the referee’s initial decision was better before VAR intervention created doubt.

The Premier League match manager explained that Bentancur was penalized because he “clearly does not look at the ball” while committing a “holding offence.” However, the lack of consistency surrounding this kind of mutual holding in the penalty area remains the chief frustration for managers and fans alike.