Tottenham did not have to wait long for their first VAR controversy of 2025. Just seven minutes into their Premier League clash with Newcastle on the first weekend of the New Year, the officials at Stockley Park were called into action.

After match referee Andy Madley waved play on despite the ball hitting Joelinton's hand in the build-up to Anthony Gordon's equaliser - which came just minutes on from Dominic Solanke opening the scoring - it was over to Chris Kavanagh and assistant VAR Sian Massey-Ellis to look over the incident. To say the outcome angered Spurs, who saw Joelinton cut out Lucas Bergvall's pass before laying on for Gordon moments later, would be an understatement.

Manager Ange Postecoglou said following the game: "I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I'll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. Simple as that.

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"Don't keep asking me about the decision. If you guys have no opinion about it that's fine. I know what my opinion is and, as I said, if that was a different day and it was an even and fair playing ground we would have won that game."

Tottenham also felt aggrieved when a penalty decision went against them after Tino Livramento appeared to have the ball hit his arm as well. Tottenham were 2-1 down at the time, almost immediately after the break.

Alexander Isak had put Newcastle into the lead just before half time, getting a touch on Radu Dragusin's attempted clearance. For a depleted Tottenham side, the momentum of the match changed with Gordon's goal.

Explaining the decision online, the Premier's League Match Centre account on X (formerly Twitter), wrote: "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." Regardless of the statement, Spurs were left disappointed and frustrated by the call.

Then, for Livramento's handball, the same account said: "The referee’s call of no penalty for a potential handball by Livramento was checked and confirmed by VAR, deeming that the ball was played on to his arm by a teammate from close range, while his arm was in a natural position."

The result left Tottenham in 12th place immediately after the game, although if result go against them for the rest of the weekend they could drop down to 14th. The defeat is Postecolgou's third in the past four league games, with no wins in that time.

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