Leeds United defeat Tottenham as Okafor scores winner amid VAR controversy

Noah Okafor scored a late winner to give Leeds United a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, ending the club's five-game winless run in the Premier League.

Substitute Noah Okafor secured the points at Elland Road after finishing a pass from fellow substitute Harry Wilson. The Guardian reported that Leeds manager Daniel Farke’s tactical changes, which included shifting through 3-5-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations, finally broke a stalemate against an in-form Tottenham side. BBC Sport noted this was Leeds' first victory since September 14.

The match was defined by a controversial incident in the 34th minute when Leeds defender Jayden Bogle caught Mathys Tel on the Achilles. Although Tel was forced off with an injury, referee John Brooks did not issue a card. According to reports, VAR official Tony Harrington spent four minutes reviewing the challenge but decided not to recommend an on-field review, deeming the tackle reckless rather than a red card offense.

Tottenham intends to submit a formal complaint to Pro Ref over the decision. Former referee Mike Dean, cited in reports, stated he would be "astounded" if the referee was not sent to the monitor, describing the tackle as "100 per cent a red." The incident occurred just one week after Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off for a similar challenge against Spurs.

Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi questioned the consistency of the officiating, suggesting the "parameter" used by the referee was poor. While De Zerbi maintained he had confidence in the officials, ESPN reported that Daniel Farke defended Bogle, affectionately calling the defender "my butterfly" following the hard-fought result.

Background

Leeds United entered the match following a difficult period, having secured only eight points from their first four games before going five matches without a win. A year prior, manager Daniel Farke had successfully used a similar tactical overhaul to stabilize the team's form.