James Maddison says what no other Premier League player has dared to about VAR

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has put himself at risk of disciplinary action after suggesting that referees are "petrified" to make decisions because of VAR.

On Monday night, Tottenham were denied a stoppage-time penalty when second-half substitute Maddison went down in the area following a challenge from Leeds United forward Lukas Nmecha.

The 29-year-old and his teammates were convinced they should have been awarded a spot-kick, but referee Jarred Gillett and VAR waved away appeals, a decision that has since become a huge talking point.

According to the Premier League Match Centre, Nmecha got enough contact on the ball to justify the penalty not being given.

However, Maddison has downplayed that claim. In fact, he took to Instagram on Tuesday night to suggest that referees are "petrified" to make decisions because of the video assistant referee.

"For clarity… The small, tiny touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my right foot, not Nmecha, and I told the ref that. But the check was over in about 20 seconds," he wrote.

Maddison added: "Officials are petrified to make decisions on pitch now because of VAR. We keep fighting. COYS."

James Maddison goes down in the area. Image credit: Getty

The midfielder, who came on in the 85th minute of their 1-1 draw against Leeds, also touched on making his comeback following an anterior cruciate ligament injury that has kept him out for 12 months.

He added: "After the longest, toughest 12 months of my life, the reception you Spurs fans gave me yesterday made all the sacrifice & dark days absolutely worth it. Thank you so much. Back where I belong."

Roberto De Zerbi gives his take on performance of referee Jarred Gillett

Speaking after the full-time whistle on Monday night, De Zerbi said referee Jarred Gillett was "not calm" after being asked about the decision-making from match officials during the 1-1 draw.

"I think they were not calm today, maybe they suffered the pressure of yesterday's Arsenal game," he said.

"For sure, we suffered the pressure today. We didn't play with passion with the ball, too frenetic, but also the referee was not calm today."

"I can't understand the polemic about yesterday's VAR because it was 200 per cent a foul, not 100 per cent, 200 per cent," he added.

Asked for his thoughts on the decision to wave away the last-gasp penalty appeal, De Zerbi was coy. “No, I don’t want to come inside the polemic," he said. "I didn’t see. I didn’t watch again. I don’t know."