Ex-Premier League referee backs decision to award Tottenham Hotspur penalty against Leeds United

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has backed the decision to award Tottenham Hotspur a penalty against Leeds United.

The Whites fell to a 3-0 defeat to Jose Mourinho's side in the capital on Saturday lunchtime in Premier League action.

Spurs opened the scoring through Harry Kane from the spot but debate raged among supporters and pundits over whether the decision to award a penalty kick was the correct one.

A stray pass from Whites goalkeeper Illan Meslier found Harry Winks in the Leeds half as the hosts pounced to counter the visitors.

The midfielder played in teammate Steven Bergwijn with the winger sent tumbling to the floor under a loose challenge from retreating defender Gjanni Alioski.

Initial contact between the two players appeared to be outside the box but the foul was deemed to continue onto the 18-yard line, which resulted in referee David Coote pointing to the spot in north London.

VAR match official Paul Tierney agreed with the on-field decision and ex-top flight ref Gallagher has backed the penalty award despite protests it should've been a free-kick.

“Well, it’s a bit like a forward being in an offside position. He's leaning forward and his body is in the area," Gallagher told Sky Sports.

"He's fouled there is no doubt about it. The referee gives the penalty. The VAR checks whether it's a foul and then he has to check whether it's in the area.

"You can see it's quite conclusive. The line belongs to the goalkeeper therefore it's a penalty. What I would say is that the on-field decision was a penalty.

"It's quite pleasing that over the last couple of rounds there has been less controversy and referees have been making more on-field decisions that have been supported by VAR."

Former Leeds captain Stephen Warnock disagreed with Gallagher's comments, saying: "That is outside the box. You see the foot hit the ground of [Steven] Bergwijn - it actually lands outside when the contact is made.

"For me, it's not a penalty.”