Brighton contacted by PGMOL after VAR error in 2-1 Tottenham defeat

PGMOL have contacted Brigthon and admitted VAR should have awarded them a penalty following a Pierre-Emile Højbjerg challenge on forward Kaoru Mitoma in the league on Saturday afternoon.

The Seagulls were controversially denied the spot-kick before Tottenham Harry Kane scored the winner to seal three points and ensure Spurs stayed in touch with the top-four.

Lilywhites striker Son Heung-min opened the scoring with a brilliant curler from 25-yards, but Japanese sensation Mitoma pulled his side level before VAR intervened to rule out the goal for handball.

Brighton defender Lewis Dunk eventually levelled for the visitors before former Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck thought he had completed the comeback when he slammed a shot at goal 10 minutes into the second half-but the effort deflected in off his team-mate Alexis Mac Allister hand and was also ruled out by VAR.

Minutes later Mitoma controlled the ball in the Tottenham half and Højbjerg stood on his boot in a challenge that should have led to penalty kick but after VAR checks concluded it wasn’t firm enough.

Referee chief Howard Webb has been in touch with the Seagulls to offer his apology and admitted it was an error on the part of VAR and centre referee Stuart Attwell not to have awarded them the spot-kick.

The 2-1 defeat has landed a heavy blow on Brighton’s european ambitions, but Spurs boss Cristian Stellini did not want to get drawn into talks of VAR.

He said: “Many times we had to accept what VAR said. If we go back we have maybe four times we can discuss what VAR did.

“We didn’t discuss in the past, we don’t want to discuss now. What VAR and the referee does is like everything, staying on the pitch and finishing now. No argument and we have to play football.”

Tottenham remain fifth on the league table while Brighton fall to seventh on 46 points, seven points behind Tottenham even though they’ve played two games less.