One Referee JOHN BROOKS
The 5 Incidents 😱😡
1. Liam Delap elbow on Djed Spence (Chelsea vs Spurs) – Brooks was VAR. Delap caught Spence in the face with an elbow (looked like violent conduct / no attempt to play the ball). Only a yellow was given. Spence was injured (later reported broken jaw). it was a clear red.
2. Xavi Simons challenge on Van Dijk (Spurs vs Liverpool, Dec 2025) – Brooks initially gave yellow, then upgraded to red after VAR sent him to the monitor. Studs high on the calf/Achilles. it wasn’t reckless enough for a straight red / 3 game ban.
3. Cristian Romero red card (same Spurs vs Liverpool game) – Brooks missed (or didn’t award) a clear push in the back by Hugo Ekitike on Romero he was booked for dissent, then later sent off for a second yellow (kick-out at Konaté). Frank publicly said if Brooks had done his job on the first incident, the red wouldn’t have happened.
4.Bissouma sent off by Brooks v Luton 2nd yellow for a dive.
5. Jayden Bogle challenge on Mathys Tel (Leeds 1-0 Spurs, today – 7 Nov 2026) – Bogle stepped on/raked Tel’s ankle/Achilles with studs. Brooks gave a foul but no card at all. VAR reviewed for several minutes but did not send Brooks to the monitor and confirmed “no red card” (called it reckless but not a sending-off). Tel was forced off injured. Spurs are complaining to Pro Ref. Fans and ex-refs (including Mike Dean and Darren Cann) have called it a red / serious foul play, especially compared with similar challenges that have been reds (including the Simons one Brooks himself gave).
Brooks’ recent Spurs record (last ~14 games) has been heavily one-sided on cards according to fan tracking: Spurs far more yellows and reds
Same referee. Same questions about consistency. #COYS
🚨 NEW: #thfc SHOULD have been awarded first penalty in over a year 🆚 Chelsea, the Premier League’s Key Match Incident (KMI) Panel has ruled. 🤦♂️
🎙️ “The on-field no penalty call was deemed incorrect, 3:2. The majority felt Caicedo was persistently holding Solanke whilst facing away from the ball and impacting the ability of the opponent to progress.
“Two panellists supported the on-field call as they felt both players are engaging and Caicedo is twisting to look at the ball.
“The VAR decision to not intervene was supported, 3:2.”