Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Thu 26 March 2026 20:42, UK

Leeds United ace Ethan Ampadu was lucky to escape a sanction in Wales’ World Cup playoff semi-final with Bosnia on Thursday, Keith Hackett has said.

The Elland Road maestro was captaining his country in the crucial clash at Cardiff City Stadium on 26 March, and they went in 0-0 at half-time.

The Whites star was involved in a first-half incident that led to a VAR review, when Harry Wilson’s 22nd-minute effort curled off the post.

As he tried to run onto the ball and finish, he went down claiming a penalty, but the officials were having none of it.

Leeds fans were probably screaming at the television, but the ex-PGMOL chief believes Ampadu was play-acting.

What did Hackett say on Ampadu incident?

Leeds have been subject to several dodgy decisions in the Premier League, and Ampadu will probably be furious he was not given a penalty in the showdown.

However, Hackett believes it was the right decision and that the LS11 man is lucky that the referee did not take a deeper check and give him a punishment.

Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, he said: “Ampadu manufactures the outcome here, the referee is spot on in his decision-making.

“The referee could have looked at the incident more closely in his review. Ampadu is lucky to escape a sanction

How are Leeds’ Welsh stars getting on?

Ampadu and his fellow Peacocks teammates Dan James, Karl Darlow and Joe Rodon are desperate to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.

They are going the right way about it, as they have been the dominant team in front of their home supporters.

Craig Bellamy’s side have had the lion’s share of the possession with 68 per cent to the visitors’ 32 per cent.

They have had four shots to the opponent’s three, but both sides have only had one effort on target at the break.

If they want to make it to the prestigious competition, somebody needs to step up and make a difference in the second-half if they are to reach the final against either Italy or Northern Ireland.

Ideally, it would be one of the Leeds players, as that will give them the world of confidence heading into the final weeks of the campaign.