Premier League panel says Leeds should have had penalty in Sunderland win, VAR should have intervened | OneFootball

A Premier League Key Match Incidents panel has ruled Leeds United should have been awarded an early penalty in their 1-0 home defeat to Sunderland.

According to Sunderland Echo, the panel found referee Stuart Attwell should have given the spot-kick and that VAR official Paul Tierney should have intervened.

The flashpoint came in the first half at Elland Road on 3 March. From a 16th-minute corner, Luke O’Nien tangled with Pascal Struijk, and the panel said the Sunderland defender impeded his opponent’s run without watching the ball.

The members unanimously agreed the incident merited a penalty to the hosts. After the match, Leeds head coach Daniel Farke insisted it was a clear decision and questioned why VAR had not checked it, adding Attwell would have awarded it on review.

Sunderland ultimately secured the points with a 70th-minute penalty for handball by Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu, which was confirmed after a VAR review. The panel backed that call 5-0, concluding Ampadu made a secondary arm movement that diverted the ball.

Source: Sunderland Echo