Ex-Premier League referee casts verdict on controversial Leeds United vs Crystal Palace penalty incident
Leeds United and Crystal Palace both had frustrations with the referee during Saturday's Premier League meeting at Elland Road.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes VAR was correct to overturn the decision to award Leeds United a late penalty in Saturday's 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Referee Thomas Bramall pointed to the spot after a sliding challenge from Palace substitute Borna Sosa on Ilia Gruev, handing Leeds a great opportunity to restore their three-goal lead after conceding a spot-kick of their own. The Whites were 3-0 up when Justin Devenny finished from 12 yards before striking the post from close range to set a few hearts racing inside Elland Road.
Replays of the Sosa challenge, however, showed it started quite clearly outside the Palace box and the decisive point of contact was also not in the penalty area. A swift VAR review overturned the decision but Leeds scored the resulting free-kick anyway, Anton Stach whipping a brilliant effort in at Dean Henderson’s near post.
“I think with a trip, it is what it is,” Gallagher told Sky Sports’ Ref Watch of the incident. “If you pull somebody’s shirt back, it can go into the penalty area but it’s clearly outside the penalty area, the [18-yard] line is quite defining.
“VAR looked at it, it only had to look once and said to Thomas Bramall it’s factually outside the box, give the free-kick. He doesn’t even have to go to the screen.”
Leeds might have felt they deserved a decision to go their way having seen much stronger penalty claims waved away in the first-half. Brenden Aaronson twisted and turned in the Palace box before a clumsy challenge by Tyrick Mitchell left the American on the floor in pain.
Jay Bothroyd slams Leeds United vs Crystal Palace decision
Bramall waved away those calls and was supported by VAR, who after review didn’t believe the official made a clear and obvious error. But there was a clear mistake in awarding Leeds a late penalty and former striker Jay Bothroyd labelled it ‘laughable’ before suggesting Bramall might feel a little embarrassed watching the incident back.
“For me, that’s another laughable one,” Bothroyd said. “I don't even understand how that would be classed as a penalty. I don't think the contact has even gone into the box, it’s about a yard away from the penalty area.
“Sosa slid in, I don't know what the free is looking at, maybe there's a player in front of him so he can't really see? But look, nonetheless, the linesman is there to help him out as well.
“It was never a penalty. The fact they scored from the free-kick, it didn't matter anyway, but he definitely got that one wrong and looking back will probably be embarrassed.”
Stach’s resulting free-kick capped off a brilliant night for Leeds, who were deserving of their 4-1 win and could have scored even more. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has his side two goals up by half-time with a pair of close-range finishes, twice getting in at the back post to bury a long Ethan Ampadu throw.
Ampadu then got a rare goal for himself, pouncing on an opening in the Palace box after Aaronson looped a header back into danger from 20 yards out. Devenny’s penalty got the nerves jangling a little inside Elland Road but Stach put a swift end to that with his second free-kick goal of the season.