Sky Sports has stirred debate following the release of footage that sheds new light on the controversial moment during Newcastle United’s 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur at St. James’ Park.
The footage, which has since gone viral, shows Tottenham defender Djed Spence spending 46.5 seconds tying his laces just before Newcastle took the corner that led to Fabian Schar’s opening goal.
Newcastle had started the match with confidence, controlling possession and creating early chances. Their dominance finally paid off when Sandro Tonali delivered a perfect corner into the box, and Schar rose highest to head the ball into the back of the net.
However, the goal immediately sparked outrage from Tottenham’s players and bench, as referee Chris Kavanagh allowed the corner to be taken while Spence was still crouched down, tying his boots and out of position.
After the match, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank expressed his frustration, making it clear that he believed the referee’s decision directly contributed to the goal.
“We conceded two goals because of two mistakes,” he said. “Unfortunately, the referee was part of the mistake for the first goal. I’m not saying there aren’t things we can do better, but it’s clear that Djed’s boot was off, and he needed to fix it.
You can see from the footage that it comes off completely. It’s common sense to allow him a few seconds to get it back on. It’s not like the game had been stopped for a long time or we were trying to delay. The goal came from his man, so of course, we were animated.”
Sky Sports later analyzed the moment in detail, using a stopwatch to confirm that Spence spent exactly 46.5 seconds tying his laces before Tonali’s delivery.
Pundit Jobi McAnuff, who was part of the broadcast team that night, said he felt the referee’s decision to restart play was “harsh” on Spurs. “This was the big moment,” McAnuff explained. “You can see Spence gets a slight nick on his boot, takes it off, and starts fixing the laces.
The referee seemed to allow him some time, but after about 30 seconds, he signaled for play to continue. I think it’s tough on Spurs because Spence plays a crucial role in defending that specific area of the pitch. That’s exactly where the cross was delivered, and that’s where he would have been positioned.”
McAnuff added that the officials could have easily prevented the controversy with better communication. “The linesman was standing very close,” he continued.
“He could have sent a quick radio message saying, ‘Give him another five or ten seconds.’ I understand referees are under pressure to keep the game moving, but in that moment, it felt unnecessarily harsh. Spurs were punished for something that didn’t involve play at all.”
The sequence ultimately benefited Newcastle, as Schar rose above the disorganized Tottenham defense to power home his header past Antonin Kinsky.
The goal set the tone for the rest of the match, with Newcastle maintaining control and eventually sealing victory with a second goal from Nick Woltemade.
When asked about the incident after the game, Fabian Schar appeared unaware of the controversy. “I didn’t even notice that someone was tying their laces,” the defender told Sky Sports.
“I didn’t know there was a rule that says you have to wait. We were focused on executing what we had trained for. The delivery from Tonali was perfect, and I just tried to make sure I got my head on the ball. That’s all that mattered to me in that moment.”
While the moment has divided opinion, many fans and pundits agree that referees are encouraged to avoid unnecessary stoppages, especially for minor issues like untied boots.
However, others argue that the decision lacked empathy and awareness of the game’s flow, as Spence was directly responsible for marking Schar the player who ultimately scored.
The incident adds another chapter to Tottenham’s growing frustrations this season, as they continue to deal with injuries and inconsistent performances.
For Newcastle, the win was another sign of their growing composure and ability to take advantage of crucial moments.
Sky Sports’ detailed breakdown has reignited debate over the balance between officiating efficiency and fairness, with fans questioning whether referees should apply more discretion in such unique situations.
Regardless of the controversy, Newcastle’s discipline and sharpness ensured they advanced comfortably to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, while Tottenham were left to rue both misfortune and mismanagement on a night when small details made all the difference.
As for Spence, the image of him crouched over tying his laces while Newcastle celebrated will likely become one of the defining visuals of the night a moment that captured both the fine margins of elite football and the frustration of a team undone by something as trivial as a loose boot.
