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

A Premier League review panel has found Leeds United should have been awarded an early penalty in Sunderland’s 1-0 victory at Elland Road.

According to Sunderland Echo, the Key Match Incidents panel ruled referee Stuart Attwell ought to have given a spot-kick in the 16th minute after Luke O'Nien grappled with Pascal Struijk at a corner, and that VAR official Paul Tierney should have intervened.

The panel said O'Nien was not focused on the ball and had his arms around Struijk, restricting the defender’s run, and unanimously concluded the incident merited a penalty for the hosts.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke voiced strong frustration afterwards, saying he could not understand why there was no VAR check and believing Attwell would have awarded it on review, while noting such incidents can be difficult to spot in real time.

Sunderland ultimately won through a 70th-minute penalty at the other end, given for handball against Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu and upheld after a VAR review.

The KMI panel supported that decision by a 5-0 vote, stating Ampadu made an additional arm movement that diverted the ball, so the award was correct.

Source: Sunderland Echo