Following James Maddison’s controversial return for Tottenham Hotspur in a 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Monday, May 11, 2026, the 29-year-old midfielder took to Instagram to criticize the match officials.
He claimed referees are now “petrified” of making decisions on the pitch because they rely too heavily on VAR.
While the Premier League Match Center stated that Leeds striker Lukas Nmecha touched the ball to justify the ‘no penalty’ decision, Maddison claimed the touch actually came from the outside of his own right foot.
This match was Maddison’s first appearance in a year after a brutal ACL injury suffered during a pre-season tour in South Korea. Despite the frustration at the end of the match, Maddison thanked the Spurs fans for the standing ovation when he came on in the 85th minute. He called this moment the end of the “darkest days” of his career.
While keeping his sense of humor, Maddison took to Instagram after the match to claim that it was actually his foot that moved the ball. He accused the referees of being afraid to make decisions.
He uploaded a story saying: “To be clear… the small touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my right foot, not from Nmecha, and I told the referee that, but the check was over in about 20 seconds.
“Officials are now terrified of making decisions on the pitch because of VAR.
“We keep fighting. COYS.”
With just two games remaining, Tottenham Hotspur likely need four points to mathematically guarantee safety from relegation, regardless of West Ham’s results.
Spurs have a significant 11-goal lead on goal difference over the Hammers, providing a crucial safety net in the standings. James Maddison returned to a high-pressure environment after being sidelined for 375 days due to his injury.
He said after the match: “That was a great moment that will stay with me forever, the reception I got today.
“It’s been some dark days over the past year, especially since the operation. It’s been a very tough year for me mentally.
“But I’m at the end of the tunnel now, so I can look back on that fondly because I’m as mentally strong as I can be after going through it.
