Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho bemoaned the quality of officiating in the North London derby as Spurs fell 2-1 to Arsenal in the English Premier League on Sunday.
The 57-year-old claimed it was ‘a pity’ referees don’t face post-match interviews to explain their decisions after being unimpressed by referee Michael Oliver and the VAR with their call for Alexandre Lacazette’s winning penalty.
Oliver pointed to the penalty spot just beyond the hour mark after Davinson Sanchez was ruled to have fouled the Arsenal forward.
“No post-match interviews for referees? That is a pity,” Mourinho told Sky Sports . “We played really bad in the first half. The 1-1 was not a fair reflection of the first half. We were poor.
“In the second half, we only had space to improve which we did. [But] then it is a question – but an impossible one as they don’t speak – for the referee Michael Oliver to answer. Probably Paul Tierney too as he was the VAR [as to why they gave the penalty].
“The game was under control in the second half so we recovered. We made changes to try and win, [but] then it is a penalty and after that a second yellow for Lamela.
“What I see from the bench is just a feeling at first. I am 40 to 50 metres away. I saw it on the iPad. Referees have a difficult job sometimes. I did not complain but when I watch back on the iPad it is what it is.
“If somebody has a different opinion [to me], it has to be one of the big Arsenal fans with a season ticket. It is the only one I accept as it is the passion speaking. Other than that I don’t accept a different view as it is obvious.
Goals from Martin Odegaard and a Alexandre Lacazette penalty helped Arsenal come from behind to defeat 10-men Tottenham in a dramatic north London derby at the Emirates stadium.
Spurs midfielder Erik Lamela, who had replaced an injured Son Heung-Min after just 19 minutes, went from hero to villain after opening the scoring with a sensational rabona in the first half but was sent off in the second for receiving two yellow cards.
