James Maddison may be staring down the prospect of a fine or a ban after venting his frustration on social media following Tottenham’s recent draw.
That is the view of former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett, who told Football Insider exclusively that the Spurs midfielder is likely to be called in by the FA’s Disciplinary Department in the near future.
It was an emotionally charged evening for the 28-year-old on Monday 11 May, as he made his first appearance on the pitch in over a year against Leeds United, almost making a decisive impact late on.
With 14 minutes of added time played, referee Jarred Gillett and VAR both dismissed Tottenham’s appeals for a penalty, leaving Maddison visibly angry as Spurs were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Leeds.
The former Leicester City midfielder clearly felt hard done by, posting on Instagram after the final whistle to claim Premier League referees are “petrified to make decisions because of VAR.” That outburst could now have serious consequences.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett said the post would be reviewed by the FA’s Disciplinary Department to establish whether it calls the referee’s integrity into question. Should they conclude it does, Maddison would be contacted and asked to provide his account, potentially leading to a formal charge and, if found guilty, either a fine or a suspension. In Hackett’s personal view, the post does undermine the match official’s integrity and warrants a charge.
Maddison himself is convinced he was fouled inside the box, arguing that the contact seen in the incident came off his own foot rather than Nmecha’s. VAR, however, reached a different conclusion, with the Premier League Match Centre confirming on X that the original decision of no penalty was reviewed and upheld, with officials determining that Nmecha had played the ball.
A Tottenham win would have moved them four points clear of the relegation zone, though West Ham’s defeat to Arsenal in dramatic fashion means De Zerbi’s side should still have enough to secure their top-flight status.
Maddison’s return to action has injected fresh energy into the squad, and he could yet play a pivotal role in Spurs’ final two fixtures against Chelsea and Everton.
