REFEREE Danny Makkelie appeared to grin at Tottenham ace Eric Dier during protests from Antonio Conte’s men after Harry Kane’s late winner against Sporting Lisbon was chalked off as offside.
Spurs came back from a goal down when Rodrigo Bentancur cancelled out the North Londoners’ former academy graduate Marcus Edwards’ opener.
But Conte’s side still needed to win to top their Champions League group and thought they did just that in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time.
Ivan Perisic delivered a superb cross from the left and found Emerson Royal at the far post.
Emerson got a header that was deflected by Sporting’s Flavio Nazinho towards the path of Kane who beat Antonio Adan from close range.
However, the home crowd’s cheers soon turned into jeers as VAR looked into a potential offside.
It took three long minutes for the referee and VAR team to decide that the England international’s goal didn’t count.
Tottenham stars were infuriated at full-time as Dier, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and coach Cristian Stellini confronted Makkelie.
Cameras caught the exchange and the ref was so confident with his decision that he smiled in front of the incensed Spurs aces insisting he made the right call.
Makkelie was heard saying: “It was offside.”;
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Dier responded: “But why?! Why?! The ball went backwards!”;
Tottenham now need to win at Marseille in their final group stage match on Tuesday to seal first place in Group D with Sporting and Eintracht Frankfurt just a point behind.
The French giants are also just two points behind the North Londoners, who won’t have Conte in the dugout as he was sent off at full-time last night.
