Tottenham interim manager Ryan Mason has said he was ‘shocked’ to see a Harry Kane goal ruled out for offside by VAR during a 3-1 Premier League loss to Leeds - a loss that has all but killed the club’s chance of finishing in the top four.
Kane thought he had put Spurs 2-1 ahead after Leeds had initially taken the lead at Elland Road, but a VAR review ruled the striker to be fractionally offside and the goal was chalked off. Leeds then scored two more goals of their to eventually win the game 3-1.
Tottenham thought they had taken the lead but Harry Kane is ruled offside by the finest of margins ?
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 8, 2021
Dele Alli so close to producing another lovely assist! pic.twitter.com/pnHuxbAxmD
It was big opportunity missed in the race for the top four and Spurs will have to rely on other results going in their favour on top of winning all of their own remaining games. The chances of which are slim.
Mason, who had overseen back-to-back wins over Southampton and Sheffield United in his first two Premier League games in charge, was left lamenting the disallowed goal.
“At 1-1 there was an offside decision I’m shocked at,” Mason told BT Sport. “I don’t think it was right. People don’t understand momentum in football and how those decisions can affect you.
“I’ve seen it back. My first look, second look and 10th look tell me that it’s not offside. At 1-1 it’s a big moment. In my opinion they got that one wrong.”
"At 1-1 there is an offside decision I'm shocked at. I can't believe it is given offside to be perfectly honest."
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 8, 2021
Tottenham's Interim head coach Ryan Mason is fuming Harry Kane's first-half strike was ruled out ?
? @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/0u1kFWBmsg
He reiterated in his post-match press conference: “Goals change games of football. The momentum, the whole feeling of a football match, can change because at that point it stayed 1-1 and at 2-1 it's a completely different game of football. It was disappointing that we didn't get the decision there.”
Mason refused to comment either way on what the defeat has done to Spurs’ Champions League chances, instead trying to focus on taking maximum points in their remaining games.
“I don't know,” he said. “Today is a disappointing result for us. We wanted to come here and win the game. We haven't done that. That's very disappointing. We have to get over this and we have to work well this week and hopefully get three points next weekend.”
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Source: 90min
