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.” ’We know this is a big emergency’
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.
(BBCSports)
“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.” (BBCSport)