Key Points
- Djed Spence has reportedly suffered a broken jaw after a late collision with Liam Delap during Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday, 19 May.
- The incident happened in the closing stages of the match, when Delap’s elbow struck Spence in the face as both players challenged for the ball.
- Delap was shown a yellow card at the time, and Tottenham supporters later questioned why VAR did not intervene.
- Spence played on until full-time despite the injury and later posted about the incident on social media.
- Reports indicate Spence may still be available for Tottenham’s final Premier League match against Everton, possibly wearing a protective mask.
Tottenham (North London News) May 22, 2026, defender Djed Spence has reportedly suffered a broken jaw after a collision with Chelsea forward Liam Delap during Tuesday’s Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, with the injury now emerging as one of the main talking points from the 2-1 defeat.
How did the injury happen?
As reported by the Standard and other outlets, Spence was struck by Delap’s elbow in the 87th minute while the two players contested a high ball.
The contact left Spence holding his face, but he stayed on the pitch until the final whistle.
The same reports state that Delap received a yellow card from referee Stuart Atwell, with no VAR review leading to a change in the original decision.
What have reports said?
According to The Athletic, Spence has been confirmed to have sustained a broken jaw from the collision.
The Standard reported that Tottenham expects him to be available for the final game of the season against Everton, although that could depend on him wearing a protective mask.
Goal also reported that Spence is set to continue with the injury and could feature with a custom-made mask.
What was Spence’s reaction?
Spence later responded on social media, posting what several reports described as a sarcastic reaction to the incident.
That reaction has added to the attention around the challenge, which some supporters and commentators felt merited stronger punishment.
However, the reporting also makes clear that, on the field, the referee’s original decision stood and the incident was not overturned.
What did officials do?
The challenge was checked in the background, but VAR did not recommend an on-field review, according to reports discussing the incident.
A former referee quoted in one of the pieces argued that the decision should have been reviewed more strongly, but that remains an outside assessment rather than an official ruling.
The match therefore continued with Delap on a yellow card and Spence carrying on after treatment.
Why does it matter for Tottenham?
The injury comes at a significant moment for Tottenham, with the season nearing its end and every available player important.
If Spence is fit enough to play, even with a mask, that would give the squad one more defensive option for the Everton match.
If he is unavailable, Tottenham would need to adjust their back line for a match that already carries clear importance.
Background of the development
The incident took place during Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday, 19 May, in a match that ended with plenty of discussion about refereeing and discipline.
Reports say the collision happened late in the game when Delap challenged for the ball and his arm made contact with Spence’s face.
After the match, the injury became clearer through follow-up reporting, with The Athletic first cited in later coverage as confirming the broken jaw.
Prediction
For Tottenham fans, the immediate focus is whether Spence can recover in time to play against Everton, because his availability could affect the team’s defensive balance.
For the wider football audience, the episode is likely to keep attention on how similar aerial challenges are punished and whether VAR standards are applied consistently.
If Spence does play in a mask, the story may shift from the injury itself to how well he can perform under those conditions in a high-pressure end-of-season fixture.
