Premier League panel admit VAR error in Sunderland’s 1-0 win at Leeds | OneFootball

The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel says Leeds United should have had an early penalty in Sunderland’s 1-0 win at Elland Road, and that VAR should have stepped in.

According to Sunderland Echo, the flashpoint came on 3 March when a 16th-minute corner saw Luke O’Nien tussle with Pascal Struijk while the match remained goalless.

The panel ruled referee Stuart Attwell should have awarded a penalty and VAR Paul Tierney should have intervened, stating O’Nien impeded Struijk, was not looking at the ball and had his arms around him. The decision was unanimous.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke was scathing afterwards, questioning why VAR did not check the incident. He argued a replay would have led the referee to give a penalty and noted the on-field view can be difficult in real time.

Sunderland’s winner arrived with a 70th-minute penalty after Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu was penalised for handball, a decision upheld by VAR. The panel backed that call 5-0, concluding Ampadu made a secondary arm movement that diverted the ball.

Source: Sunderland Echo