According to a report by Manchester Evening News on Wednesday October 28, 2026, Tlyhe Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel has delivered a unanimous verdict on the controversial decision not to send off Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson during his side's 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

Gudmundsson escaped a red card after making a dangerous challenge on Manchester United midfielder Andrey Santos during the Premier League encounter earlier this month.

The Leeds defender caught Santos on the calf with his studs, prompting questions about whether referee Darren England should have dismissed him. However, the official showed Gudmundsson a yellow card, and VAR decided against intervening.

Following a review of the incident, all five members of the KMI panel agreed that the on-field decision was correct. The panel consists of three former players or coaches, a Premier League representative and a representative from Professional Game Match Officials Limited.

The panel explained that Gudmundsson's challenge was reckless but did not meet the threshold for serious foul play because the contact was made with relatively low force.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher also discussed the incident, suggesting that the speed and intensity of the challenge may have influenced the referee's decision.

Meanwhile, former official Darren Cann acknowledged that Gudmundsson could have been sent off, comparing the incident with Ryan Sessegnon's red card for Fulham. However, he believed the lower intensity of Gudmundsson's tackle helped explain why he received only a yellow card.

The decision will come as a disappointment to Manchester United supporters who believed the Leeds defender should have been dismissed. A red card could potentially have changed the course of the match.