Tuesday 12 May 2026 — The VAR decision that dominated the final minutes: should Tottenham Hotspur have been awarded a penalty in the 90+13th minute? The late drama sparked heated debate online and in the stadium — here’s a clear look at what matters and how to judge it.
What happened
A contentious incident inside the Spurs’ penalty area drew a VAR review deep into stoppage time. The clip circulated widely: attacking play into the box, contact between a Spurs defender and an opponent, and appeals for a penalty. The referee went to the monitor (or VAR intervened), and the final decision — whether to award a spot kick or leave the on-field call — determined the course of the match.
Key questions to decide a penalty
When reviewing this sort of incident, there are three main things officials consider:
– Nature of the contact: Was there a clear foul such as a trip, push or holding that unfairly impeded the attacker?
– Handball: If the ball struck a hand or arm, was the hand in an unnaturally wide position or did the player deliberately handle the ball?
– Clear and obvious error: VAR’s remit is to correct only ‘clear and obvious’ mistakes by the on-field referee. If the on-field call is within the referee’s reasonable range of judgment, VAR will usually leave it.
How Laws of the Game apply
– Fouls: Any holding, pushing, or tripping that denies a clear goal-scoring opportunity (or unjustly stops an attacking move) is a penalty if committed inside the box. Intent isn’t always required — reckless or careless actions that affect play can still be punished.
– Handball: The updated interpretations focus on arm position and whether the player’s body made the hand ‘unnaturally big’. Accidental strikes where the arm is in a natural position are less likely to be penalised.
Analysing the clip
From the available footage, the incident hinges on whether the defender’s contact was enough to unfairly impede the attacker’s movement or shot. If the defender actively pushed or held the attacker, that supports a penalty. If contact was minimal or the attacker exaggerated, the referee’s refusal to award one could be upheld.
VAR’s role
VAR must identify a clear and obvious error. If the referee missed an obvious push or a deliberate handball that directly prevented a scoring chance, VAR should recommend a review. But if the contact is marginal or subjective, VAR will normally back the on-field decision.
The wider picture
Late incidents carry extra weight because a penalty at 90+13 can decide matches and league outcomes. That doesn’t change the standards officials must apply, but it does explain why emotions run high after such decisions.
Conclusion
Without definitive frame-by-frame evidence here, a firm verdict is difficult. If the defender made significant contact or positioned an arm unnaturally to block the ball, a penalty should have been awarded. If contact was minimal and within normal defensive play, the on-field decision to deny a spot kick was defensible. Ultimately, whether VAR was right depends on whether the original call met the ‘clear and obvious error’ threshold.
What do you think? Watch the clip closely: did VAR get the final call right?