Keith Hackett in agreement with Neil Warnock over Leeds v Sunderland referee remark
Keith Hackett has agreed with a comment made by Neil Warnock after Leeds United beat Sunderland at Elland Road.
Leeds were 2-1 winners over Sunderland at Elland Road in a dramatic match in which the Whites scored twice late on through Pascal Struijk.
A number of big talking points have come out of Monday’s (17 February) Championship showdown, not least whether Joe Rodon should have been red-carded for Leeds.
Referee Stuart Atwell was drafted in late on for the match, with Craig Pawson dropping out, and Warnock raised a point on the man in the middle post-match.
Neil Warnock questions Stuart Attwell appointment for Leeds 2-1 Sunderland
Speaking live on Sky Sports Football [17 February], Warnock asked why a “Championship referee” was not in charge, with Attwell more accustomed to officiating Premier League games.
And speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, former Premier League referee Hackett agreed with those comments.
“When the PGMOL was formed there were three funding partners which continues to this day,” Hackett said. “The top 24 referees were selected to become professional officials.
“The Football League did not want to lose the services of its top referees. So the arrangement was that Premier League referees (SG1) would each weekend referee 10 Premier League and up to five Football League games.
“So the challenging games would see SG1 referees appointed. Given the current group of SG1 referees, I agree with Warnock that top performing Championship Referees (SG2) should be appointed to the match.
“However, you also have to factor in the funding arrangement in place these days.”
Leeds United return to top of Championship
Daniel Farke’s side were minutes away from a terrible result, one in which would have blown to automatic promotion race wide open.
As it is, though, Leeds are back top of the Championship pile, two points ahead of next opponents Sheffield United in second.
More importantly, Burnley are seven points further back in third place, while Sunderland are now 10 points adrift and surely out of the top-two battle.
Struijk’s double was wildly celebrated long after full time, and no wonder given the magnitude of what it meant.