Josh Edwards

Mon 16 March 2026 7:10, UK

Keith Hackett was bemused by the lack of consistency from officials in Leeds United‘s draw with Crystal Palace.

Given the circumstances, Leeds will certainly take heart from their point away to Crystal Palace in a game that was full to the brim with controversial decisions.

The first saw the home support shouting for Jaka Bijol to be sent off, just moments before Gabriel Gudmundsson received his marching orders for a second yellow card.

Hackett claimed that Gudmundsson’s sending off was harsh, and he has doubled up on that claim despite another moment of controversy later in the game.

Brennan Johnson incident infuriates Keith Hackett

Gudmundsson’s first yellow card was warranted, but his second left fans at Selhurst Park baffled.

The Swede was late, at worst, to a challenge, before Thomas Bramall booked the defender, and then realised it was due to be his second.

Hackett initially disagreed with the decision to send Gudmundsson off, but was then left even more bemused at Thomas Bramall’s decision to let Brennan Johnson off the hook, despite a near identical foul.

Had Bramall shown any level of consistency in his performance, then both sides would have been reduced to ten men, but that was not the case, with Hackett frustrated that this is happening regularly.

Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, the former Premier League referee said: “I am not giving a yellow card for either challenge.

“The referee made a hash of the first one and rightly judged the second one correctly without issuing a card. However, it highlights a level of unacceptable inconsistency.”

What did Daniel Farke say about Leeds controversy?

Daniel Farke was booked for his protests when Ismaila Sarr threw himself to the ground in an attempt to get Bijol sent off, and he was just as frustrated after the game when discussing Gudmundsson’s sending off.

As quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post, the Leeds United boss said: “I’m not sure there are really words needed; everyone in the stadium could see. It was not even close to a yellow card; there was no pace in the duel, and it was not a tactical foul.

“Why he has decided to give a yellow, has forgotten this player is on a yellow and was himself surprised his decision means a sending off.

“When you compare this to when Brennan Johnson was there with a tackle with more pace, a clear tactical foul – it was not a yellow for me, I’m not asking for a yellow/red. But for Gabi, his second foul of the game, then the game is influenced in a key matter.”