Tottenham Hotspur’s controversial 1-1 draw with Manchester United has triggered a fresh debate about refereeing decisions, with former Spurs defender Graham Roberts calling for an explanation from PGMOL chief Howard Webb.

The major talking point came in the closing stages of the contest when Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off following a heated confrontation with Manchester United defender Luke Shaw. The dismissal arrived in the 78th minute, shortly after Bryan Mbeumo had put United ahead, leaving Tottenham facing a difficult challenge as they attempted to get back into the game.

The incident quickly became one of the most discussed moments of the match, with Tottenham players appearing unhappy with the referee’s decision. Roberts has now added his voice to the debate, questioning why Bentancur received a straight red card while Shaw was not punished in the same manner.

Roberts Launches Furious Criticism

The former Tottenham defender believes the officials should explain how they assessed the confrontation. He was particularly frustrated by what he viewed as inconsistent treatment of the two players involved.

Roberts took to social media to express his disappointment, directing his criticism towards Webb and demanding that the refereeing body address the incident publicly.

“I hope Howard Webb comes out and apologises to Tottenham regarding the referee and explains why he never sent Luke Shaw off,” Roberts wrote.

He argued that contact involving a player’s hands near an opponent’s body or face should be examined carefully when deciding whether disciplinary action is necessary. The former Spurs player also suggested that Tottenham had reason to feel aggrieved by the outcome.

Roberts went further by accusing referee Stuart Attwell of repeatedly making decisions that frustrate his former club. His comments reflected the anger surrounding the dismissal, although his assessment remains his own opinion rather than an official finding about the referee’s performance.

The controversy has raised questions among supporters about consistency in the application of football’s disciplinary rules and whether both players were judged according to the same standards.

De Zerbi Sends a Different Message to Bentancur

While Roberts demanded accountability from the officials, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi took a different approach when discussing Bentancur’s dismissal.

The Italian admitted that the midfielder’s reaction was wrong but revealed that he embraced the Uruguayan after the final whistle and thanked him for the response it appeared to provoke from the team.

“I kissed Rodrigo, and I said thanks, because it’s clear it’s a mistake from Rodrigo, because it’s not the right reaction in football, but now Tottenham needs to react,” De Zerbi explained.

The Spurs boss acknowledged that Bentancur should have handled the confrontation differently. Nevertheless, he felt the incident prompted his players to display greater urgency, courage and determination.

Tottenham Must Turn Fight Into Results

Despite going down to ten men, Tottenham continued pushing and eventually found a stoppage-time equaliser to secure a point.

De Zerbi wants his players to maintain that fighting mentality throughout their matches, rather than waiting for difficult circumstances to bring out their best qualities. He believes technical ability alone will not be enough without aggression, courage, concentration and a collective willingness to compete.

For Tottenham, the draw offered encouragement because of their late response, but the controversy surrounding Bentancur’s red card is likely to remain a major talking point.

Roberts wants answers from Webb, while De Zerbi is demanding improvement from his own squad. The question now is whether Tottenham can use the determination they showed late in the match to build momentum in their upcoming fixtures.