Leeds United v Leicester City: ‘Game’s gone’ as controversial Craig Pawson shocks BBC pundit
Neil Redfearn was aghast to see Ricardo Pereira booked for a challenge on Georginio Rutter at Leeds United.
The former Whites manager reacted live on BBC Radio Leeds, via the BBC Sport live-blog (8.22pm), on 23 February after the Leicester City man slid in to halt the Whites attacker with a “great tackle” near the half-way line midway through the first half, only to be shown a yellow card by Craig Pawson.
Pereira appeared to get the ball without any dangerous follow through, and Redfearn declared that “the game’s gone” if the tackle constituted a caution.
Redfearn said: “That was a great tackle by Perreira. If that’s a yellow card, the game’s gone.
“It’s a sliding tackle. He’s got a bit of Rutter but I don’t think it’s even a foul. It’s very debatable.”
Ricardo Pereira booked vs Georginio Rutter at Leeds United
It looked like a textbook tackle live, and still looked like one on the replays, so what Pawson saw when just yards away only he will know.
The erroneous card came during a breakneck opening to the game as both sides started out at 100 miles per hour, with the official seemingly doing his best to add to the chaos by getting numerous decisions wrong early.
Leeds United had their own chances but couldn’t take advantage, while the league leaders went ahead from a corner, just as was the case in reverse at the King Power on 3 November, when Wout Faes was left alone at the back post after a Patson Daka flick on.
Officiating is under the spotlight like never before and, although players often don’t help them, with decisions like Pawsons they sometimes don’t help themselves.
At home, in front of a loud Elland Road crowd, Daniel Farke’s men should probably have been able to take advantage of the lack of order that the referee and the fast pace created, but up until the break they let themselves down and did much the same until Connor Roberts smashed home late for his first at the club.
The game was turned on it’s head moments later after Archie Gray’s shot deflected off the Leicester scorer and bounced home, and Dan James completed an incredible turnaround in added time.
In other Leeds United news, the club are receiving “extra payments” but are still not happy in a running feud, says Phil Hay.
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