Credit: Imago

Josh Edwards

Mon 9 March 2026 11:40, UK

Keith Hackett believes that Norwich City were fortunate not to have conceded a penalty against Leeds United.

Daniel Farke’s side secured their place in the next round of the FA Cup with ease, with Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Joel Piroe all on the score sheet in a 3-0 win.

However, the scoreline could have been significantly worse for the visitors, especially had Leeds been awarded a penalty for a foul on Lukas Nmecha.

The German was just about to get on the end of a cross from Dan James before being nudged in the back in the penalty area, and Hackett believes that the Canaries got away with one.

While it didn’t stop Leeds progressing to the next round of the FA Cup, it has again raised debate over the standard of officiating in England.

Should Leeds have had a penalty against Norwich?

The Whites certainly feel as though they’ve been hard done by recently, with several VAR calls, one of which left Hackett baffled after Leeds were denied a stonewall penalty against Sunderland.

This one wasn’t as obvious, but replays certainly show that Nmecha was pushed in the back just as he was about to get a connection with the ball.

Darren England waved the appeals away, and VAR didn’t see it as a clear and obvious error. While Hackett believes that Norwich were slightly fortunate to get away with it, he also thinks that they were given the benefit of the doubt.

Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, he said: “The defender is fortunate to get away with this one. This really is a VAR call, and he has to determine if the outstretched arm of the defender is a push.

“If the penalty had been awarded, then the defender would have been red-carded for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

“On balance, I believe that the referee and VAR have come out with the correct decision. The benefit of the doubt has gone to the defending team here.”

When will Leeds learn fate of FA Cup draw?

With the Whites now into the quarter-final of the FA Cup, they will be awaiting the draw to see who they will have to face next.

And fortunately for them, they will not have to wait long, with the draw set to take place at around 7 pm on Tuesday, 9 March, ahead of West Ham’s clash with Brentford.

Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea remain the favourites for the trophy, but with teams like Southampton and Port Vale still in the draw, Leeds will be hoping for a favourable fixture.

The quarter finals are due to take place on the weekend of 4 April, with the semi-finals scheduled for later that month at Wembley.