Michael Salisbury dropped from Premier League duties after costly VAR blunder in Brighton's defeat to Tottenham

Michael Salisbury, the official responsible for controversially failing to award Brighton a penalty during Saturday’s Premier League defeat to Tottenham, has been dropped by refereeing body PGMOL. Kaoru Mitoma went down in the Spurs box under a challenge from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg when the score was still 1-1 in a crucial game for the top-four race, but referee Stuart Attwell waved away appeals for a spot kick.

Ad Attwell’s decision was then confirmed by VAR official Salisbury, who has been overlooked for the next round of Premier League games as a result. Premier LeaguePGMOL admits Brighton should have had a penalty against Spurs09/04/2023 AT 11:34 Salisbury was absent from the list of officials named for this weekend’s 10 league fixtures.

The move comes after his failure to intervene resulted in reports that PGMOL chief Howard Webb apologised to Brighton and admitted that the wrong call had been made. Attwell has been named as VAR official for Wolves’ home clash with Brentford on Saturday.

Spurs’ win, sealed by a Harry Kane strike after the controversial penalty incident, left them fifth in the table, seven points above Brighton in seventh. PGMOL admits Brighton should have had a penalty against Spurs Kane nets late goal to keep Spurs’ top-four hopes alive Ancelotti laughs off rumours of Chelsea return, but 'sad' to see club struggling It was a tense match as both Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham interim boss Cristian Stellini were sent off after altercations between the two teams' coaching staffs.

After the match, Brighton defender Lewis Dunk said: «There's no point having VAR in the game if you're not going to make big decisions like that. That changes everything, I just don't understand it.»