Exclusive: Mark Clattenburg claims VAR wronged Manchester City against Tottenham – ‘I do not understand…’
The recent match between Manchester City and Tottenham has sparked significant discussion about the role of video technology in modern football, particularly after former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg shared his surprising perspective on a key incident.
The respected official, who oversaw nearly three hundred top-flight matches during his career, believes Manchester City were unfairly denied a clear penalty opportunity during their 2-0 defeat against Tottenham.
Clattenburg’s analysis focuses on a specific moment involving Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven and Manchester City’s Oscar Bobb.
According to the experienced referee, van de Ven made clear contact with Bobb’s foot without touching the ball—a challenge that typically results in both a foul and a yellow card.
What makes this situation particularly noteworthy is that the incident occurred inside the penalty area, meaning it should have resulted in a penalty kick for Manchester City.
The most puzzling aspect of this situation involves the Video Assistant Referee system. Clattenburg expressed genuine confusion about why the VAR officials did not even review the incident, let alone recommend an on-field review for the central referee.
In his professional opinion, this represented a clear case where technology should have intervened to correct a visible error in the game’s officiating.
This incident gained additional significance because it was largely overlooked in the match’s broader coverage. Unlike other controversial moments from the game such as James Trafford’s challenge on Mohammed Kudus this potential penalty wasn’t even highlighted in the television broadcast’s post-match analysis.
This absence of attention meant that most viewers remained unaware that a potential game-changing decision might have been missed.
However, it would be unfair to place the entire result on this single officiating decision. Manchester City’s performance throughout the match fell below their usual standards.
The team struggled with uncharacteristic passing errors, particularly in advanced positions where they normally excel. These technical mistakes disrupted their attacking rhythm and prevented them from building sustained pressure on Tottenham’s defense.
The situation worsened when individual errors contributed directly to Tottenham’s goals. James Trafford’s decision to pass the ball under pressure rather than clear it safely led directly to Tottenham’s second goal, exposing the goalkeeper’s occasional lapses in judgment that have concerned supporters this season.
While a penalty conversion might have changed the game’s dynamics—the incident occurred in the 54th minute with City already down 2-0—it likely would have masked deeper issues evident in City’s performance.
The team’s overall display raised questions about their current form and consistency, issues that a single penalty award would not have resolved.
This match serves as another example of the ongoing debate about VAR’s effectiveness and consistency. When clear incidents like the van de Ven challenge on Bobb go unreviewed, it undermines confidence in the system designed to eliminate obvious errors.
For Manchester City, the frustration comes not just from dropping points but from feeling that the officiating process failed them at a crucial moment.
As the season progresses, both the team and the officials will need to address their respective issues. Manchester City must rediscover their technical precision and game management, while the refereeing community must work toward greater consistency in applying the video review system.
The beautiful game depends on fairness and accuracy from all participants—players and officials alike—and matches like this one demonstrate that there’s still room for improvement on all sides.