Premier League issue statement on why VAR did not intervene with Spurs penalty against Wolves
A Premier League statement has confirmed why the VAR did not overturn the very first penalty awarded to Tottenham all season against Wolves.
In the final match of the calendar year, Spurs have welcomed Wolves to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It is the aim of Ange Postecoglou's side to avoid a third consecutive defeat so that they can enter 2025 in high spirits.
To that end, leading 2-1 at half-time is a promising start. Goals from Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson to overcome Hwang Hee-chan's early opener have put them on the correct path.
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However, Spurs could have very easily held a two-goal advantage, had Son Heung-min dispatched from the penalty spot.
In the 43rd minute - with the score still locked at 1-1 - the captain was provided the opportunity to score from 12-yards.
This came after referee Chris Kavanagh judged Wolves midfielder Andre to have fouled Johnson in the 18-yard box. Home supporters burst out with cheers at the site of their first penalty in the 2024/25 campaign.
Kavanagh's VAR based at Stockley Park, Jarred Gillett, reviewed the incident and concurred that there was a foul committed.
The subsequent Premier League statement, posted to their Match Centre account on X, read: "The referee’s call of penalty for a foul by Andre on Johnson was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed there was clear contact on the back of Johnson’s leg."
Unfortunately Son would not make good of the opportunity as his effort was not tucked into the bottom left corner, allowing Jose Sa to dive down and parry to safety.
Luckily for the man who missed, Johnson was fed through by Dejan Kulusevski moments later, and he tucked Spurs into the lead.