UCL failure: Villas-Boaz blames it on Referee

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas claimed a denied Gareth Bale penalty had a huge influence on missing out on Champions League qualification yesterday.

The team could not make the top four place in this season's campaign as they lost it to Arsenal. Villas Boaz believes it could have been the other way round.

"I don't want to put the spotlight on the referee, but I think it (was) absolutely decisive," the Tottenham manager said.

"Apart from the distance that separates the grounds, the emotions are felt very strongly. It would have certainly been felt at Newcastle, and it would certainly change the running of this game too.

"Sunderland would have to be more adventurous, and so there would be more space."

Villas-Boas has repeatedly defended Bale this season amid accusations that he dives, and he thinks Andre Marriner got the decision wrong.

"It was extremely disappointing decision in my opinion for the fact that Andre was on the conference at start of season and we spoke about Gareth's incidents," Villas-Boas said.

"It was a poor decision. It could have potentially changed the nature of other game too."