Retour
A former referee believes a big error was made during Leeds United's draw with Man United(Image: (PAUL ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images))
Leeds United have been told in a bid for VAR to 'stay low key', they were denied a review that could have led to a penalty against Manchester United. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fourth Premier League goal of the season cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half opener.
But midway through the second half, Leeds thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Ethan Ampadu was dragged to the ground by Harry Maguire. Referee Darren England waved away the appeals and VAR upheld his decision. However, former Professional Game Match Officials Limited boss Keith Hackett wasn't convinced and believes a review should have taken place.
"Maguire, let’s face it, is a serial offender at corner kicks and will continue to use his hands and arms illegally until someone determines that a penalty kick should be awarded,” he told MOT Leeds News.
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"Maguire has committed a foul challenge and England should have penalised it with a penalty kick.
"VAR, in an attempt to stay low key, decides not to come in, but he should have done to allow England the opportunity to have a replay of the incident at the monitor."
Hackett also believes England, who had been on VAR duty for Liverpool’s win over Brentford the day before the game at Elland Road, which saw Keith Andrews' side finish the game with nine men after two sending offs, was suffering from mental exhaustion.
The former FIFA ref also believes Ampadu should have been booked for a reckless challenge on Bryan Mbeumo during the opening 45 minutes.
Ethan Ampadu during Leeds United's draw with Manchester United(Image: (Stu Forster/Getty Images))
He said: "Darren England should have produced a yellow card for this clear reckless challenge.
"Perhaps because he was close he was unable to determine the speed of the challenge accurately. A busy weekend and in my opinion should only receive one appointment in order to fully recover. It’s the mental exhaustion."
Reflecting on the draw, Farke said: "I wanted to win this game and my boys as well, you could see this outside. We're even a bit disappointed we didn't win it.
"I think we were the better side, the dominant side. It was not necessary to be losing at half-time.
“If you're not one moment switched on to track the run and with their quality they can hurt you. We lacked a bit in our decision making in the first half, could have done a bit better and played with more clarity in and around the box.
“We had this in the second half, had the momentum but the problem was there were too many strikes over the crossbar and too many crosses were a bit too long.
“This situation killed a bit our momentum. This lack of quality in the finishing and crossing was the only thing I could criticise."
United are now seventh and only three points off a Champions League spot after earning 10 points from their opening seven matches. A trip to Sunderland on Sunday is next up for Farke's men as they look to maintain their solid start to the season.