Brighton receive a THIRD apology of the season from the PGMOL because of a costly VAR error… as Howard Webb admits the Seagulls should have been awarded a penalty in defeat at Spurs
- Kaoru Mitoma was fouled by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg but didn’t get a penalty
- PGMOL chief Howard Webb has acknowledged the wrong decision was made
- Premier League’s refereeing body previously apologised to Brighton twice
The Premier League’s refereeing body have admitted they got a major call wrong after Brighton were denied a penalty during their defeat by Tottenham.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has acknowledged Brighton should have been awarded a spot-kick when Kaoru Mitoma was brought down by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the second-half.
As Mitoma looked to control the ball in the box with the score tied at 1-1, Hojbjerg caught the winger but referee Stuart Attwell failed to acknowledge the foul.
The footage was looked at by VAR Michael Salisbury at Stockley Park but a penalty was not given to Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Harry Kane went on to score the winner in the 79th minute as Tottenham secured their first win since Antonio Conte’s departure over a fortnight ago.
Brighton were not awarded a penalty despite Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s foul on Kaoru Mitoma
PGMOL chief Howard Webb (L) has acknowledged Brighton should’ve been awarded a penalty
Referee Stuart Attwell (above) and VAR Michael Salisbury look to have cost Brighton one point
Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk was left frustrated by the decision and claimed the Danish midfielder ‘clearly fouled’ Mitoma.
‘I don’t see what VAR is here for,’ the defender said. ‘You bring it in for big decisions and don’t make big decisions. What is the point of it? He has clearly fouled him.’
It’s the third time PGMOL have apologised to Brighton this season following mistakes in their games against Crystal Palace in February and against Aston Villa before the World Cup.
Brighton also had goals Mitoma and Danny Welbeck ruled out for handball against Tottenham.
In the 17th minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Mitoma’s goal was ruled out after VAR adjudged he handled the ball just before putting the ball away.
However, replays suggested the ball actually struck Mitoma on the chest rather than the arm.
10 minutes into the second-half, Brighton saw another goal chalked off by the video technology, with Alexis Mac Allister adjudged to have handled when he deflected Danny Welbeck’s shot in.
Brighton had two goals disallowed during the game and were denied a penalty by the referee
Brighton received their first PGMOL apology after referee David Coote and VAR Neil Swarbrick failed to send off Fabinho for a bad tackle on Evan Ferguson during January’s FA Cup fourth round win over Liverpool.
The second came when Pervis Estupinan saw a goal incorrectly disallowed in their 1-1 Premier League draw at Crystal Palace after VAR drew the offside lines in the wrong place on replays.
Meanwhile, Stellini and De Zerbi were both sent off during their sides’ clash in north London after squaring up to one another on the touchline.
Afterwards, De Zerbi accused Stellini of disrespect following their fiery clash, with the Brighton boss waiting to see if he can be on the touchline for their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
Fabinho went unpunished for this bad tackle on Evan Ferguson in the FA Cup fourth round tie between Brighton and Liverpool in January
Pervis Estupinan saw a goal wrongly disallowed for offside at Crystal Palace after the lines were drawn in the wrong place by VAR
It’s thought Stellini’s recent praise for Brighton’s former boss Graham Potter – later twisted in the Italian media – irked his compatriot.
‘I’m used always to respecting everyone. I don’t like when people don’t respect me,’ he said. ‘It’s personal things… I told him what was my opinion, my idea – not bad words, only my opinion.’
The two coaches continued their war of words as they headed down the tunnel.
But afterwards Stellini tried to play down the rift, insisting: ‘I want to give respect to all the managers in Premier League.’
On his red card , he added: ‘I wanted to speak to the players and I lose my focus on the bench. This is the rule. I have to respect the rule but I think also if you look at what happened, I was polite and calm.’
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has accused Cristian Stellini of not showing him respect
The two managers clashed in the second half and it led to the ref showing them both red cards