Tudor fury at 'home referee' as Spurs left in 'big emergency'

ByMichael Emons

BBC Sport journalist at Craven Cottage

"He was a home team referee", who "doesn't understand football."

Furious interim Tottenham manager Igor Tudor left nobody in any doubt about his thoughts on Fulham's opening goal on Sunday, as a 2-1 defeat deepened his side's relegation fears.

Tudor also accused Fulham's Raul Jimenez of "cheating" by pushing Radu Dragusin before Harry Wilson swept home.

And such was his anger, he made the accusation of Thomas Bramall being a "home referee" twice.

What made it worse for the 47-year-old Croatian was a belief Tottenham were denied a goal in similar circumstances last week when Randal Kolo Muani thought he had made it 2-2 against Arsenal, only for the goal to be ruled out for a push on Gabriel.

Tudor, furious at what he called an "incredible mistake", told BBC Sport: "Their first goal changes the situation on the pitch. It's a big refereeing mistake. There's no consistency last week, what happened today was incredible. The referee was incredible today – not giving a goal there is madness.

"It's about consistency of the decision, they need to understand even if it is a soft touch but he is not watching the ball, it is a foul. He [Jimenez] gained an advantage and they scored. You need to give these fouls.

"I didn't like the referee today, too much of a home team referee. I didn't feel well with him. All the decisions were on their side. He doesn't understand football, the feeling of what is wrong and what is right.

"He [Jimenez] was not thinking about the ball, he was thinking how to cheat, he cheated the player, was pushing, it was cheating and it's a foul. Ninety-nine of 100 people will say it's a foul, it's so obvious."

Ever since a one season spell in the old Second Division in 1977-78, Tottenham have been a top-flight club - and that position has rarely been under threat.

Yes, Spurs came 17th in 2024-25, but they ended 13 points better off than 18th-placed Leicester, with Ange Postecoglou focusing on the Europa League towards the end of the season, a competition which they went on to win.

This year feels more perilous.

Make no mistake, Tottenham – 16th in the Premier League and four points above the relegation zone – are in a battle to stay up.

Speaking after the 2-1 loss at Fulham, Spurs midfielder Yves Bissouma, said: "We lost again. It is not easy, especially for us, for the club. It is not good for everyone.

"We know this is a big emergency. We need to change a lot of things, we need to put effort into the game to try and win games. At the moment, it is just hard."

Reacting to that interview, former Premier League title winner Chris Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "If you're a Spurs fan and listening to that Bissouma interview, there are alarm bells ringing. They are in real danger of going down."

A 2-1 loss at Fulham might not sound too bad in isolation against an impressive Cottagers side that have eyes on Europe, but it is now 10 league games without a win. They are currently suffering their worst run in 22 years since a similar streak under Ossie Ardiles in 1994.

Against Fulham, Spurs scored from their only effort on target through Richarlison's header and it was the hosts were threatened to add to their own tally – Fulham manager Marco Silva bemoaning the score "not reflecting our superiority on the pitch".

Facing far bigger problems, Tudor, who has now lost both of his games since replacing the sacked Thomas Frank, said: "We need to find forces inside each of us, where are we going to go?

"When we attack, we lack the quality to score the goals. I want to see everything more, more personality, more wish to do things. We were not good, lacked everything. Attacking and defending, Fulham were much better.

"Of course it is a confidence problem, it's not about systems. I don't want to speak about relegation all the time - I give the same answer, my answer is always the same.

"We don't need to think about that [relegation], not because it cannot happen, but we must focus on growing mentality as a team, concentration, physically."

Tudor, a two-time Serie A champion as a player with Juventus, is getting first-hand experience of how Spurs have been a team of great contrasts this season, struggling domestically but progressing nicely in the Champions League with a two-legged tie against Atletico Madrid in the last 16 to come.

A second-half capitulation saw Tottenham lose 4-1 at home against leaders Arsenal in Tudor's first game, but the manner of their loss at Craven Cottage may be more worrying.

"We want our Tottenham back" was one of the chants from those Spurs supporters, on another miserable day for them.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Joe Hart, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, summed up the feelings and said: "It is serious, really serious.

"With 28 games played now, they're looking at the table with 29 points on the board.

"That is the only thing their focus can be on this season. Obviously, they have got the Champions League to enjoy, but when it comes to the league it is about amassing as many points as possible."

For Tudor and Tottenham, 10 league games remain, starting with Crystal Palace at home on Thursday, before the first of their two European ties with Atletico.

"We need to forget this game and focus on training," added Tudor. "We need to stay calm, believe in what we are dong in training, and get out, staying all together.

"The problems are more complex [than attitude and commitment] second half was better, but the first half was not enough.

"There are problems here, big problems."

By

Football issues correspondent

There is a misconception that VAR exists to ensure consistency of decision-making, but this has never been its remit.

It is there to fix clear and obvious errors – and that is why we see similar situations with different outcomes.

It is one of the many reasons why fans struggle to understand what VAR is trying to achieve.

We can pick out four decisions - three were goals, and one was disallowed – though all three involving Spurs went against them.

Earlier this season, Tottenham conceded a goal against Liverpool when Hugo Ekitike had hands on Cristian Romero.

Last week, Tottenham had a Randal Kolo Muani goal ruled out when there was a small push in the back of Gabriel.

And on Sunday, Fulham's goal stood despite Igor Tudor's claims of a push by Raul Jimenez on Radu Dragusin.

Fulham themselves will point to a goal they conceded against Manchester United at the start of the season.

Leny Yoro had two hands on the back of Calvin Bassey, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Judging the consistency of VAR is about the intervention, not the final outcome.

All these decisions have been left to referee's call, whichever way they have gone.

Yes, you could argue that the inconsistency is on the field, but it is a pipe dream to expect overall consistency when every situation is slightly different.

What is certain is that VAR has not wavered from sticking with the original decision.