‘Definitely not’: Dermot Gallagher delivers verdict on controversial incident from Leeds v Man U
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has had his say on the controversial incident involving Dan James from the Leeds United clash v Man United on Sunday.
James was booked for diving in the second-half of the game after going down under a challenge from Leeds captain Liam Cooper. Anthony Taylor blew his whistle but booked the United player.
James was booked twice for diving last season.
However, talking on Ref Watch on The Football Show (Sky Sports, Monday, 11am) Gallagher said, “it’s definitely not a dive”.
“Well, it’s outside the penalty area so it wouldn’t have been a penalty,” Gallagher said.
“What I would say is sometimes you close your options. If you don’t give a penalty you give a dive.
“I think there was a third option and that’s to let the game play on. It’s not a penalty but it’s definitely not a dive.”
Rehearsal for Leeds?
We agree with Gallagher. It shouldn’t have been given as a penalty, although with VAR you never know.
However, it was harsh to book him. When you’re as slight as James, an arm from Cooper is going to make it hard to stay on your feet.
Leeds fans knew that James would come back to haunt them when he was named in the line-up on Sunday.
It showed the way that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was setting up his team and James had a double point to prove.
He has been continuously linked with Leeds since his move to Elland Road infamously collapsed.
He also had a point to prove to Man United and Solskjaer after he’s fallen dramatically down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
He got his goal, although Illan Meslier should have done better with his weakish shot.
But we still think his future at Man United is bleak. Marcelo Bielsa is obviously a fan and we’d still love to see James using his pace inside the Bielsa system at Leeds.
He’s obviously match-fit and could be available in January on loan. We’d love to see it happen, but we do think it’s unlikely.
In other Leeds United news, ‘What the hell is going on?’, ‘Embarrassing’ – These fans savage Sky Sports post about Leeds