Jermaine Jenas has spoken of his surprise that Tottenham were not awarded a penalty in the 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United this afternoon (Sunday).
Spurs had a penalty appeal turned down in the second half as they pushed for an equaliser, with Harry Kane going down in the box under a challenge from Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles.
Referee Mike Dean turned down Tottenham's protests, with the decision not being overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR) as Spurs were left frustrated.
But the former Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder said it was probably the most surprising decision since VAR was introduced into the Premier League at the beginning of the season.
“I would say so, yes," Jenas said, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“What is surprising me, well not surprising me I suppose, what is happening here is that there has been a huge directive between VAR and the referees that they are going to back the referee’s decision.
“So we haven’t really seen a situation where a referee has decided it wasn’t a penalty and it has been overturned. I think that is their way of saying we are going to let you referee the game unless he has grabbed someone around the neck.
“I thought that was a shocker, and I thought the one in the first half was a penalty as well, but that one there, Jamaal Lascelles has gone down because he was injured, but he has put his arm out.
"The fact that VAR has looked at that and not decided that it was a penalty does surprise me, but I think this is VAR’s way of saying they are going to stand by the referee’s decisions.
“But I think that Mike Dean has got that one wrong."
