Habib Diarra’s controversial second-half penalty gave Sunderland a 1-0 win at Leeds after the house aspect weren’t awarded a first-half spot-kick, a choice closely criticised by Daniel Farke and former gamers.
The Black Cat’s extremely contentious victory retains Leeds simply six factors above the drop zone, with most of their fellow relegation rivals having a sport in hand.
Diarra’s Seventieth-minute penalty winner, which took Sunderland to 40 factors, was given after the VAR despatched referee Stuart Attwell to the pitchside monitor for a handball by Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu when blocking Wilson Isidor’s shot.
Ethan Ampadu concedes a penalty for handball in opposition to Sunderland
Attwell adjudged Ampadu to have “deliberately handled”, however his choice was labelled “very harsh” by ex-Tottenham captain Michael Dawson on Soccer Particular, including, “I don’t know what he is supposed to do with his arm.”
Leeds’ fury with the choice was compounded after VAR had earlier opted to not intervene when Leeds defender Pascal Struijk was wrestled to the ground by Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien at a nook within the opening phases of the sport.
Leeds boss Farke advised TNT Sports activities: “It isn’t even a query. What was VAR doing on this scene? It might probably’t be a clearer penalty. It’s powerful to know how this isn’t checked and never re-watched.
“I am pretty sure that Stuart [Attwell], who is such a quality ref, so experienced and so calm, if he had the chance to watch this back, he would have said, ‘All day long this is a penalty’.”
In the meantime, Dawson stated: “I think Leeds should have had a penalty. Struijk had arms around his neck – I can’t believe VAR didn’t get involved.”
Jayden Bogle and Ethan Ampadu remonstrate with referee Stuart Attwell
Former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford was left baffled too by the choice.
He advised TNT Sports activities: “I’m so bemused as to how the referee and VAR officials have not given a penalty. It’s clear as day. Arms around the neck, he drags him down to the ground. How’s that not a penalty? It’s absolutely embarrassing.”
Sky Sports activities Information understands the incident involving Struijk and O’Nien was checked out by VAR, nevertheless it was deemed {that a} clear and apparent error had not taken place.
VAR additionally denied Leeds a second-half opener as Joe Rodon’s Sixty fourth-minute header from Anton Stach’s free-kick was disallowed for offside.
Diarra’s successful penalty was Sunderland’s solely shot on course at Elland Street as they ended a nine-game winless away league run to maneuver as much as eleventh.
However a irritating night for Leeds, which noticed Jaka Bijol miss two late probabilities, means the Whites stay fifteenth and searching over their shoulders.
Opta stats: Sunderland win with second-lowest passing tally in PL this season
- Sunderland accomplished 143 passes on this sport, the second-lowest tally by a successful crew within the Premier League this season after Brentford v Aston Villa in August (128).
- That is simply the fifth sport within the Premier League this season to see a crew win by way of only one shot on course, with Sunderland accounting for 2 of these (additionally v Newcastle United in December).
- Leeds have suffered back-to-back Premier League house defeats (additionally dropping 1-0 to Manchester Metropolis) for the primary time since April 2023, once they misplaced 5-1 to Crystal Palace and 6-1 to Liverpool.
- Throughout each Premier League and Championship, Leeds suffered their first defeat of their final 23 house night (7pm or later) video games (W20 D2).
- Of the 21 groups to concede 60+ penalties within the Premier League, Leeds have conceded the best proportion of spot-kick targets, with their opponents changing 85% of them (67/79).
