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Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has suggested referees are "petrified" to make decisions because of the video assistant referee, after being denied a stoppage-time penalty against Leeds on Monday.

Substitute Maddison went down under Lukas Nmecha's challenge, but referee Jarred Gillett and the VAR dismissed his appeal for a spot-kick.

The match finished 1-1, leaving Spurs two points above the Premier League relegation zone with two games to play.

Maddison, 29, who was making his first appearance of the season after his return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, wrote on his Instagram account: "For clarity… The small, tiny touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my right foot, not Nmecha, and I told the ref that.

"But the check was over in about 20 seconds. Officials are petrified to make decisions on pitch now because of VAR. We keep fighting. COYS."

It is not the first time Maddison has criticised referees. In September, he said referees and VAR "had an absolute shocker of a start" to the season after Professional Game Match Officials Limited [PGMOL] chief Howard Webb implemented a policy of "less intervention" for VAR in the Premier League.

BBC pundit Alan Shearer has been vocal in his criticism of VAR, saying refereeing standards are "the worst we have seen for a long time" and "only getting worse" because of its use.

Former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock added VAR is the "worst thing that has been introduced to the game", while ex-England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has said football's emotion is being drained by technology.

Meanwhile, Europe's top leagues have been summoned to a meeting with Uefa in the summer to discuss how VAR technology is being used, with head of Uefa referees Roberto Rosetti saying: "I believe that we forgot the reason why VAR was introduced."

Only two horses are left in the race that no-one wants to lose - the scrap for Premier League survival.

With two games to go, and Burnley and Wolves already relegated, either Tottenham or West Ham will be joining them in the Championship next season.

Spurs, in 17th, are two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham after being held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United on Monday - and also have the superior goal difference.

While a point is not to be sniffed at, the chance to go four points free of the Hammers was missed by Roberto de Zerbi's side, and Spurs remain without a home win in the top flight since 6 December.

"If we want to win, we have to reduce the mistakes," said De Zerbi.

West Ham, who saw Callum Wilson's stoppage-time equaliser ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR) in Sunday's 1-0 defeat by leaders Arsenal, are rooted in trouble.

"It's going to be tough [to stay up] - we know it is not in our hands," said boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

"We will fight for it and we will keep on fighting."

If West Ham can win at Newcastle - they beat the Magpies 3-1 at home in the league in November - then they will jump to 17th and push Spurs into the relegation zone by one point.

Anything other than a Hammers win, though, would hand the advantage back to Tottenham - who could then ensure their safety by winning at Chelsea.

The chances of Spurs picking up a win at Stamford Bridge, however, might be slim, as they have managed it just once since 1990, with a 3-1 victory in April 2018.

If the battle does go down to the wire on 24 May, both teams have home games, with Tottenham welcoming Everton and West Ham facing Leeds.

The draw with Leeds felt like an opportunity missed. I felt like we deserve to win, but we just weren't clinical in front of goal.

However, we are still in the driving seat, and we need a minimum of four points to stay in the Premier League.

I feel confident [Tottenham can stay up] because in the past four games, we've picked up eight points - two wins and two draws - and there is a real belief and confidence under Roberto de Zerbi.

But one of the remaining games is Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - and we've only won there once in 36 years, so that's going to be tough.

I'm glad De Zerbi came in when he did; it was certainly a waste of time with [former interim head coach] Igor Tudor, his 44-day stint.

But De Zerbi seems to be getting a tune out of these players, so I live in hope.

We're going to now watch West Ham travel to Newcastle, and hopefully they don't pick any points up there, then Spurs need to just go and get a result at Chelsea.

It was hard not to feel defeated after West Ham's controversial home loss to Arsenal on Sunday.

But Spurs' draw with Leeds means there's still a lot of hope that the great escape is on in east London.

If it does go down to the final day, then it's hard to look past West Ham winning. With just one loss from their past seven home games (W3, D3), the fans in a similar voice as they were against the Gunners on Sunday and Leeds having nothing to play for, Nuno Espirito Santo's side will be clear favourites.

If the gap is still two points, then of course West Ham will need former boss David Moyes to do them a favour by beating Spurs away with Everton. A draw won't do because West Ham's goal difference is considerably worse. But an Everton win isn't entirely out of the question, given they'll probably need a victory for a chance of qualifying for Europe, while Spurs have just two home wins to their name all season.

Ideally, West Ham will have their destiny in their hands on the final day, without needing Everton to get something at Spurs. If that's how it's set up, I back us to get the job done. If not, having to rely on results elsewhere is far from ideal.

Either way, this coming weekend is absolutely huge. West Ham could be relegated by Tuesday night, or they could be 90 minutes from Premier League survival.

I'm not sure my heart can take any more.

With two games left, the relegation fight between Tottenham and West Ham is on a knife edge - and their recent form tells two very different stories.

Tottenham have somewhat steadied themselves under Roberto de Zerbi. They are four games unbeaten (W2 D2), their longest run without defeat this season, and one that reflects a side finally showing some resilience after months of turbulence.

Their last unbeaten run of five matches came in December and January, a period that seems a long time ago now.

Momentum has rarely been Spurs' friend this year, but avoiding defeat at this stage is no small thing.

West Ham, by contrast, are sliding at the worst possible moment. Defeat at Newcastle would make it three losses on the bounce, something that has already happened twice under Nuno Espirito Santo - once in October and again in December.

When results dip, they tend to dip quickly, and the Hammers' season has been punctuated by damaging spells that have dragged them back into trouble.

Spurs still have their fate in their own hands, while West Ham's margin for error is shrinking fast. Over the next two defining games, survival may hinge on who holds their nerve.

De Zerbi's disappointment with officials

De Zerbi's disappointment with officials

Roberto De Zerbi criticises referee Jarred Gillett for not being calm during Tottenham's 1-1 draw against Leeds United. De Zerbi believes match officials are feeling the pressure after the VAR controversy at West Ham United.

Poll results: Who will be relegated with Wolves & Burnley?

We have had a poll running at the top of our page this morning, asking you guys to select who you think will get relegated between Tottenham and West Ham.

Here are the results:

West Ham - 63%

Tottenham - 37%

Is Newcastle away the toughest possible fixture?

Newcastle v West Ham (Sun, 17:30 BST)

What do you think of West Ham's final two fixtures, Hammers fans?

In any other season, their penultimate fixture - Newcastle away - would be regarded as one of their toughest.

The Magpies generally have a proud home record in the Premier League, but they have lost seven of their 18 league games at St James' Park this season, including five of their last seven.

West Ham won the reverse fixture 3-1 in November and claimed a 2-0 win at Newcastle in the Premier League last season.

The last time Newcastle lost consecutive home games against West Ham was October 1998.

But West Ham are on a barren run in front of goal, having failed to find the back of the net in any of their last three games on the road.

The last time the Hammers went four games without scoring away from home was in May 2015.

And who was the fourth match of that stark run against? You guessed it, Newcastle.

History, it seems, offers little comfort to either side ahead of this weekend’s clash.

How do the run-ins compare?

Tottenham 1-1 Leeds

West Ham in action next as they travel to St James' Park to face Newcastle United on Sunday.

The Hammers have won only four of their 18 Premier League away games this season.

But they can take confidence from the fact that one of their nine league wins came against Eddie Howe's side at the London Stadium in November.

Spurs, meanwhile, have an eight-day break between fixtures, not returning to the field until 19 May as their game against Chelsea was rescheduled due to the Blues' involvement in the FA Cup final this weekend.

It is a fixture that will demand thorough preparation from Spurs, given that they have won at Stamford Bridge only once in the Premier League era.

On the final day of the campaign, Roberto de Zerbi's side host Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while West Ham welcome Leeds United to the London Stadium.

Earlier in the season, Spurs thrashed Everton 3-0 and Leeds beat the Hammers 2-1.

For Spurs, the task is straightforward: match West Ham’s results and they will avoid relegation to the Championship.

Tottenham 1-1 Leeds

It has become a familiar situation for Tottenham.

No, not the feeling of dropping points at home during a nail-biting battle for survival, but the continued absence of penalty decisions in their favour.

Remarkably, Spurs are the only team in the Premier League not to be awarded a spot-kick this season.

The last time the North Londoners won a spot-kick was against Brighton on 25 May, 2025.

For a few seconds on Monday night, it seemed as though that run was about to end as James Maddison went to ground under a challenge from Leeds United forward Lukas Nmecha.

But replays showed that Nmecha made contact with the ball before bringing Maddison down and, as a result, Spurs' wait for a penalty goes on.

Two months ago questions were raised as to whether Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky would ever play for the club again.

The Czech Republic international endured a nightmare 17 minutes in their Champions League last-16 match against Atletico Madrid in March which saw him concede three goals before being substituted off by then-manager Igor Tudor.

But after making one of the saves of the season to deny Leeds a late winner on Monday - ensuring Tottenham earned a point towards potential Premier League survival - the 23-year-old may just have gone some way to redeeming himself.

Mathys Tel's 50th-minute strike had put Spurs ahead but the forward conceded a penalty for a high boot on Ethan Ampadu 24 minutes later and Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted from the spot to level at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Both sides probed for a winner in 13 minutes of added time and Leeds thought they had found it in the 99th minute when James Justin played Sean Longstaff through and the midfielder unleashed a powerful strike at the near post from close range.

Enter Kinsky, who stretched to get fingertips to the ball and ensure it clattered off the crossbar and not into the roof of his net.

It is impossible to say how important that save could be come the end of the season but for now it leaves Spurs two points clear of West Ham in the relegation zone with two games remaining.

"That save is one of the saves of the season," said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carrager on Sky Sports.

"Football is an absolute rollercoaster and who would have thought he would ever play for Tottenham again - and then he does that.

"You would have to have a heart of stone if you weren't delighted for him. Everyone thought his career was over but that save can be the moment that keeps Tottenham in the Premier League."

Not long after that devastating night in Madrid, where Spurs ultimately lost the last-16 first-leg match 5-2, Tottenham were forced to turn to Kinsky again with first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario sidelined to undergo hernia surgery.

He has since started five matches in the league, where Spurs have lost one match, won two and drawn two.

Kinsky has kept one clean sheet across those five matches but the save against Leeds could have ramifications far greater than his own personal redemption story and it was clear he knew that too.

"Kinsky is walking around the pitch with his chest out and with a massive smile on his face, and rightly so," said former West Ham defender Matthew Upson on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Massive game from him. He played really well, made good decisions with the ball and made some fantastic saves."

Carragher compared the save to Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's to deny Sandro Tonali and Newcastle a late equaliser earlier this season.

Had Vicario not been sidelined for this period, Kinsky may never have got his moment for Spurs.

But he has shown great resilience to produce a save that could go down as one of the biggest in Tottenham's history if they are able to retain their Premier League status.

Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writer

When a disconsolate Kinsky made his way off after only 17 minutes at Atletico in March, it carried all the hallmarks of a moment that could end his Spurs career.

The 23-year-old Czech had slipped twice to give away goals and his removal by then head coach Igor Tudor was brutal.

Tudor's refusal to even console the keeper as he came off made it an awkward watch for those of us in the Metropolitano, who were left wondering if Kinsky would ever play for Spurs again.

Vicario's hernia problem has seen Kinsky thrust back in, and his redemption arc continued with a magnificent display as Spurs drew 1-1 with Leeds United.

It was a performance that was testimony to his strength of character as much as his ability, and what a joy it must have been for Kinsky to hear his name echoing around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Kinsky's first-half save from Joe Rodon's header was outstanding, diving low to his left to make the stop right on the line - but his stop from Longstaff in stoppage time was even better.

Who knows just how vital that save may be amid the fine margins of a relegation battle?

What we do know is that there can be no doubts about Kinsky's character to come through the other side of such a harrowing experience to distinguish himself in spectacular fashion.

West Ham face Newcastle away on Sunday before taking on Leeds on the last day of the season while Spurs travel to Chelsea on Tuesday 19 May before finishing their campaign at home against Everton.

"100% a missed opportunity for Spurs given the remaining fixtures," said Upson.

"If you are West Ham now you are looking at it and feeling a little better. If you look at what they have got to do and what Spurs have got to do, they are in touching distance.

"This was an opportunity for Spurs to take it out of West Ham's hands and they haven't."

Carragher said: "A real opportunity to almost put this whole season to bed, they will be very disappointed but I think the point will feel a lot better in the morning."

Spurs can take some comfort that four points from their final two games would be enough to see them safe, even if the Irons win both of their matches, thanks to their vastly superior goal difference.

The sight of Roberto De Zerbi pulling a black hood over his face as he stalked the touchline was a symbol of another night of self-destruction by Tottenham Hotspur.

New head coach De Zerbi was a picture of anguish after Richarlison squandered a chance to put Spurs in a comfort zone by blazing a simple chance over the bar as they led Leeds United by Mathys Tel's spectacular strike.

It would not have settled the game - 2-0 is no guarantee with Spurs - but it might just have settled the nerves jangling around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Italian is learning quickly that no such territory as a comfort zone exists at Spurs, and certainly not when presented with the opportunity to put daylight between themselves and West Ham United and make their lives easier in the Premier League relegation battle.

And so it proved as goalscorer Tel went from hero to zero in a moment of total recklessness after 74 minutes to concede the penalty that allowed Leeds to equalise from the penalty spot and deprive Spurs of two precious points.

Tel had already shown his erratic side in the first half when he found himself in a tight spot in his own penalty, then attempted to resolve the problem by delivering a perfect cross onto the head of an onrushing Leeds United forward, only for Kevin Danso's desperate clearance to spare his embarrassment.

This was nothing compared to a bicycle kick in his own area that connected with Ethan Ampadu's head, leaving the Leeds captain in a heap.

The Video Assistant Referee merely confirmed what everyone else in stadium knew, De Zerbi raising his eyes to the heavens as Dominic Calvert-Lewin slammed home the penalty.

After being a relatively low-key presence in his early Spurs games, which have included vital wins away at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa, this was the night when the Italian's combustible temperament bubbled throughout.

De Zerbi jumped up and down on the spot in disgust at slow play from his team in the first half, then incurred the wrath of referee Jarred Gillett, who delivered a touchline dressing down as the Italian repeatedly left his technical area.

He received a yellow card as things threatened to boil over late on, with 13 minutes of added time increasing the unbearable tension around the stadium.

No wonder De Zerbi looked so frustrated at the final whistle, because the door to survival that opened wider when West Ham United lost so contentiously to Arsenal on Sunday, suddenly closed again as they missed the chance to open up a significant four-point advantage going into the final two games of the season.

De Zerbi told Match of the Day that the pressure of their situation may have had an impact on his players.

"We didn't play a great game - we played a good game," De Zerbi said.

"I think we deserved to win anyway but maybe the pressure, the crucial game, the crucial part of the season, we suffered too much.

"Anyway I am happy because I watched my players with the right spirit, with the right mentality.

"We made too many mistakes. If we want to win we have to reduce the mistakes, but we knew before this game it will be tough until the end of the season, until the last game. It is tough for us and tough for everyone."

On Tel, he said: "He is young and is a talent. I will kiss him and hug him. He doesn't need too many words. He was sorry for the mistake. It can happen to a young player."

De Zerbi added: "I think we have to consider the result, but we also have to consider the performance. We played a good game, we are making points - in the last four games we made eight points.

"Congratulations to Leeds. They played a great game. They have to play the last game at West Ham and we've no doubt that they will play the same way."

One player who deserved a hug and a kiss from De Zerbi was goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, whose redemption arc from the trauma of being taken off after 17 minutes of the Champions League last-16 first leg at Atletico Madrid continued.

Kinsky made two superb saves, one from Joe Rodon's header in the first half, and another that preserved a point when he showed stunning reflexes to turn Sean Longstaff's stoppage-time shot on to the bar.

They could just turn out to be the saves that keep Spurs in the Premier League.

And that fight now looks likely to go to the final game of the season.

If West Ham can win at Newcastle United on Sunday evening, Spurs will be back in the bottom three when they travel to Chelsea for their next game on 19 May. The Blues would take ghoulish delight in prolonging their agony to a final game at home to Everton.

If it does go to the last game, Spurs will have to reverse a worrying trend as their last home win in the Premier League was against Brentford in December, drawing their last two under De Zerbi against Brighton then here against Leeds.

In desperation to snatch a winner, De Zerbi sent on James Maddison for his first action since sustaining a serious knee injury in pre-season. He looked lively, feeling he had won a penalty when he went down under challenge from Lukas Nmecha, but the Leeds player got a touch on the ball first.

De Zerbi's body language - not exactly difficult to read - screamed frustration.

It was echoed by everyone of a Spurs persuasion and life is unlikely to get any easier as their battle to avoid an embarrassing drop into the Championship now looks like it could go to the final day of this turbulent, chaotic season.

Match of the Day - 2025/26 Highlights: Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United Highlights  BBC

Leeds boss Daniel Farke is pleased with the "mentality" and "resilience" shown by his side as they earned a 1-1 draw away at Tottenham thanks to Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 74th-minute penalty.

MATCH REPORT: Tottenham 1-1 Leeds United

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi says his players are good enough to stay up after their draw with Leeds United leaves them two points clear above the relegation zone with two games to play.

MATCH REPORT: Tottenham 1-1 Leeds United

Tottenham Hotspur squander the opportunity to take a significant step towards Premier League safety as they are held to a 1-1 draw at home by Leeds United.

MATCH REPORT: Tottenham 1-1 Leeds United