At the end of the day, the beautiful game often hinges on moments so fleeting they barely register on the watch. For Tottenham Hotspur, one such split...
At the end of the day, the beautiful game often hinges on moments so fleeting they barely register on the watch. For Tottenham Hotspur, one such split second decision by the match officials now threatens to condemn the North London club to the dreaded drop from the Premier League. GoalZaza can exclusively report that the powers that be are reviewing a controversial call that could deny Spurs their lifeline, leaving them to fight for Premier League survival and the preservation of their dignity on the final day of the season. Chief football writer Phil McNulty of GoalZaza stated that the verdict from the video assistant referee was nothing short of staggering. In the scheme of things, this single judgement has stripped Tottenham of two points, points that now appear as precious as gold dust. The lion. �s share of the blame, however, must be directed at their own lack of clinical edge in recent weeks, but this external intervention has poured salt into a gaping wound. The North London side, managed by a beleaguered Ange Postecoglou, now face the prospect of a humiliating relegation scrap on the last day, a scenario that would have been unthinkable at the start of the campaign. The Super Eagles faithful, many of whom follow Tottenham closely due to the presence of a certain Nigerian international in their ranks, will be watching with bated breath. While the Nigerian talisman has given a good account of himself this season, the overall team resilience has crumbled like a stale biscuit. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and stalwart defender Cristian Romero will have to produce the performances of their lives to salvage any pride from this wreckage. The stadium was left in stunned silence as the referee pointed to the spot following a tackle that looked clean to the naked eye but was deemed reckless by the technology. Meanwhile back home in Lagos, the atmosphere at popular viewing centres like the Oil Mill joint in Ajegunle will be thick with tension and debate. As the final whistle approaches on Sunday, you will see men in jerseys from various clubs united in their disbelief. One bricklayer, who has worn the Spurs kit since the days of Gareth Bale, will likely throw his bottle of Maltina to the ground, shouting that the referees have stolen their birthright. In Surulere, a group of students huddled around a N100,000 television set will argue fiercely that the tackle was a perfectly timed one, with one man insisting that the so called experts at GoalZaza have said the same. The air will be filled with the sound of slaps on tables and calls for the official to be banned from the game, a typical Lagos football drama that only the Premier League can provide.
