Former referee Keith Hackett has stated that Tottenham Hotspur should not have been given a penalty during their 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest after captain Cristian Romero went down in the box.
It was yet another disappointing result for Spurs in the Premier League, with Forest moving above them in the table and pushing them down to 17th place. The defeat has significantly increased the pressure on manager Igor Tudor, who lost what was seen as a crucial match in the fight to avoid relegation.
The game, however, could have unfolded differently, as several controversial decisions appeared to go against the North London side. One major incident came late in the first half when Spurs appealed strongly for a penalty. Despite their protests, referee Michael Oliver waved play on, and VAR later confirmed the decision.
Reviewing the footage, Hackett supported the call, saying Romero went down too easily while attempting to win a spot-kick.
Before the match, reports suggested Tudor had one final opportunity to secure his job against Forest. Instead, Spurs were outplayed in the second half, suffering another damaging defeat that has left their survival hopes hanging by a thread.
With difficult fixtures coming up, securing a first league win under Tudor looks increasingly challenging. Still, it remains unclear whether the club will keep faith with their interim manager, with the upcoming international break potentially offering the right moment to make a swift managerial change.
