By David Woods

9th Nov, 2020 | 11:45am

Dermot Gallagher delivers verdict on Bamford 'goal' for Leeds v Crystal Palace

Many people have had their say on the Leeds United goal that was ruled out in the 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday. 

Patrick Bamford scored what looked to be a brilliant equalising goal before Mike Dean ruled it out for offside in the VAR booth.

When the lines were shown, Ally McCoist said he couldn’t believe it had been ruled out on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday.

Gary Lineker said, “I actually loathe the way it [offside law] is being implemented” and other pundits have queued up to slam the decision and the law that enabled it.

We’ll give the last word on the subject to the former Premier League referee and regular on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch show (Sky Sports, Monday, 11.30am) Dermot Gallagher.

Host Rob Wooton certainly wasn’t happy about it.

“Rob, you can argue with me all day I’m not going to defend it, I’m not going to back it,” Gallagher said.

“On the day, with what VAR had at its disposal that’s where they drew the line.

“I can’t justify it. I don’t know where Sakho is.

“I’m not a technician. I’ve been quite open, I think it’s a really tough call. Not many people are happy about it.

“The images that were relayed to the VAR were the best they had at the time. He [Mike Dean] made the decision.

“I’m not backing it, I’m not decrying it. I have to live with it, I might not like it.”

Time to draw a line… in the sand

We knew what Gallagher would say. He’s a man who knows the rules inside out and he calls it straight down the line.

He thinks that’s what Mike Dean did in the VAR booth on Saturday, although he obviously didn’t like the decision himself.

However, this is the problem. The lines that they’re drawing, with Bamford’s on his arm, are turning off football supporters everywhere.

The game is for the fans and the rules need changing.

Looking at the image above it’s impossible to say whether he’s actually offside or not. And, if that’s the case, surely the decision has to stick with the on-field referee?

If there’s a rule that says Bamford’s goal should have been ruled out, then it’s pretty obvious that rule needs changing.

We can’t see that happening before the end of the season but the people at the top need to have a long, hard look at VAR and the impact that it’s having on the game that we all love.

In other Leeds United news, ‘Not good enough for the PL’ – Sky Sports pundit destroys 3 Leeds players after display v Palace