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

A Premier League review panel has ruled Sunderland were fortunate not to concede an early penalty in their 1-0 win at Leeds United this month, according to Sunderland Echo.

The flashpoint came in the first half at Elland Road, when a 16th-minute corner was delivered with the score still 0-0, as Luke O’Nien grappled with Pascal Struijk.

The Key Match Incidents Panel said referee Stuart Attwell should have awarded a penalty and that VAR Paul Tierney ought to have intervened. It concluded O’Nien was not looking at the ball and had his arms around Struijk, preventing him from attacking it. The decision was unanimous.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke was scathing after the game, arguing there was no debate, questioning what VAR had done and suggesting a review would have confirmed a penalty, while accepting the on-field view is harder in real time.

Sunderland ultimately won through a 70th-minute penalty, awarded for handball against captain Ethan Ampadu and confirmed by VAR. The KMI panel backed that call by five votes to zero, saying Ampadu made a secondary arm movement that diverted the ball away.

Source: Sunderland Echo