Tottenham midfielder James Maddison says match officials are “petrified” about making decisions following an incident in a stoppage-time moment against Leeds. Maddison claims he was denied a penalty in that late phase and links the outcome to a wider reluctance among referees to make calls. His remarks focus on the perceived pressure around decision-making and the role of VAR in assessing incidents. Sky Sports reports that Maddison specifically describes officials as being afraid to make decisions, while BBC News presents the same basic claim, describing referees as hesitant to act. Both outlets frame the comments as Maddison’s reaction to being denied what he believed should have been a penalty, and both cite his view that referees’ approach is shaped by fear of the consequences of decisions, including those reviewed by VAR. The reports do not include any confirmation from the officiating body within the provided material, focusing instead on Maddison’s statements about the match and officiating standards.