Dan James incident footage shocks ex-FIFA official in Leeds v Millwall – ‘Wow’
Leeds United beating Millwall to return to the top of the Championship on Wednesday wasn't without its controversies.
Daniel Farke's side were 1-0 up inside three minutes at Elland Road after Jake Cooper turned a Manor Solomon cross into his own next, and Ao Tanaka rounded off the scoring with just five left on the clock.
In the 82 minutes between their goals, Leeds were profligate in the final third, managing just one shot on target from a further 17 attempts and looking set to leave the door open for a shock Millwall equaliser.
Though the Whites eventually found their shooting boots through Tanaka, referee Dean Whitestone appeared to have a night off, with the Leeds fans lambasting him for not showing a single yellow card.
Keith Hackett left in disbelief by Leeds v Millwall incident
Whitestone appeared to miss plenty of challenges and comings-together throughout a feisty, if one-sided, evening in LS11, overseeing a rare yellow card-less encounter between Leeds and Millwall.
| Leeds United | Statistic | Millwall |
| 2 | Goals | 0 |
| 0.83 | xG | 0.20 |
| 2 / 18 | Shots on Target | 0 / 4 |
| 61% | Possession | 39% |
| 4 | Corners | 3 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
Leeds winger Dan James was at the centre of one foul not given in the dying embers, being dragged back and then deliberately shoved over by Millwall substitute Tristan Crama right on the edge of the box.
After being tagged in a video of the challenge on X (12 March), former FIFA referee Keith Hackett said: "Wow, cannot understand why a free kick was not awarded – a clear offence missed by the referee."
Dan James debacle shows why Leeds must finish the job
Such a blatant and deliberate foul – particularly one right on the edge of the opposition box – being missed so easily by an entire refereeing team is a worrying sign for the state of Championship officiating.
Unlike in the Premier League, Whitestone didn't have VAR to call upon in order to review the challenge, nor was Stockley Park able to bring his attention back to the challenge after allowing play to continue.
Had the stakes been higher in the latter stages at Elland Road, which became increasingly nervy with Leeds only 1-0 up, such a foul being missed could have been a make-or-break moment in the match.
With just nine regular-season matches remaining for the Whites, the Premier League is firmly in their sights – and should such an incident occur if and when James is running at top-flight defences, he, Farke, Hackett and the Elland Road faithful will hope that it wouldn't be missed a second time.