Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League survival battle will go down to the final day after they missed the chance to secure safety against Chelsea. With West Ham two points behind and only one game remaining, victory at Stamford Bridge would have guaranteed Spurs' top-flight status for next season, while a draw would almost certainly have sufficed given their vastly superior goal difference.
However, Roberto De Zerbi's side fell to a 2-1 defeat against their London rivals, setting up a tense final-day encounter with Everton, while West Ham face Leeds simultaneously. The outcome might have been different had a late penalty appeal been granted by referee Stuart Attwell.
The Incident
In the 85th minute, with a corner about to be taken, Attwell blew his whistle and brandished a yellow card at Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, who appeared to wrestle Micky van de Ven to the ground. The incident occurred shortly after Richarlison had halved the deficit for the visitors, and several Tottenham players questioned why Attwell did not point to the penalty spot, given he deemed the incident worthy of a caution.
Why No Penalty?
According to IFAB Law 12, which covers fouls and misconduct, direct and indirect free kicks, including penalty kicks, can only be awarded for offences committed when the ball is in play. As the corner had not yet been delivered, as confirmed by video assistant referee John Brooks, the conditions for a penalty were not met. Therefore, the yellow card was the maximum sanction available to the referee.
This decision left Tottenham frustrated but ultimately correct under the laws of the game. Spurs now face a nervy final day, needing to secure at least a draw against Everton to avoid relegation, depending on West Ham's result against Leeds.
