Tottenham Hotspur defender Destiny Udogie has hit out at VAR officials overseeing his team’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United following a controversial handball decision.

Newcastle’s Joelinton had appeared to have handled the ball in the lead up to Anthony Gordon’s equaliser, although referee Andy Madley did not blow up for a foul. The incident went to VAR, which decided that Joelinton had in fact not committed an offence.

In a statement on social media, the Premier League explained: “The referee’s call of goal was confirmed by VAR, who checked for a potential handball by Joelinton in the build-up and deemed that his arm was by his side, in a natural position and the contact was accidental.”

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Udogie - who is nursing a hamstring that is expected to keep him out of action until mid-February - was watching the game on TV. He posted a Snapchat story of him watching the game with the caption “VAR what a joke”. The post has since been deleted.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was left enraged after full-time, having seen his side now unless in four Premier League matches. “If all things were equal and balanced we would have won today. Things weren't equal and balanced,” he told BBC Sport after full-time.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe believes his side deserved the three points but admitted that there is a grey area when it comes to handball. “For me the rules are slightly unclear,” he admitted.

“I don't know where the cut off point is. Of course it hit his hand - I cannot deny that. But from that point onwards I thought it was a really good goal."

The defeat means Tottenham will stay in the bottom half of the table this weekend, with the club some 11 points adrift of Newcastle in fifth. Spurs now look to Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg at home to Liverpool.