Michael Salisbury dropped from Premier League duties after costly VAR blunder in Brighton’s defeat to Tottenham

Kaoru Mitoma went down in the Spurs box under a challenge from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg when the score was still 1-1 in a crucial game for the top-four race, but referee Stuart Attwell waved away appeals for a spot kick.

Attwell’s decision was then confirmed by VAR official Salisbury, who has been overlooked for the next round of Premier League games as a result.

Attwell has been named as VAR official for Wolves’ home clash with Brentford on Saturday.

Spurs’ win, sealed by a Harry Kane strike after the controversial penalty incident, left them fifth in the table, seven points above Brighton in seventh.

It was a tense match as both Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham interim boss Cristian Stellini were sent off after altercations between the two teams’ coaching staffs.

After the match, Brighton defender Lewis Dunk said: “There’s no point having VAR in the game if you’re not going to make big decisions like that. That changes everything, I just don’t understand it.”

Brighton’s next match is away to Chelsea on Saturday, where they will look to claw back some of the 10-point gap to the top four.

Tottenham are at home to Bournemouth, and sit three points behind Manchester United in fourth, who have a game in hand.