Ex-FIFA official amazed at ‘nasty’ tackle in Leeds United v Crystal Palace
Leeds United fell to defeat away at Crystal Palace on Sunday (9 October) but they could have been playing against 10 men.
As Whites midfielder Tyler Adams surged through the middle of the pitch, Eagles workhorse Cheick Doucoure attempted to get a toe on the ball but instead connected nastily with the American’s ankle.
The referee brandished a yellow card and VAR opted not to request another review by the man in the middle, agreeing that a yellow was enough.
Ex-FIFA official Dermot Gallagher, though, thinks the Mali international was lucky to not see red for the challenge.
“I think he is very, very fortunate,” Gallagher said on Ref Watch [Sky Sports News, 10 October, 11:52am]. “He’s given a yellow card because it’s low but it is so nasty, caught him right across the Achilles.
“If he had been sent off, he couldn’t have complained but the referee got the best view of that and it’s not a very good tackle.”
Rub of the green
It was the kind of decision which always goes the way of the home side nowadays with referees scared to upset the majority home crowd with a contentious decision and it is really disappointing.
Had this happened at Elland Road, then you could expect a red card to be brandished in Doucoure’s direction and VAR wouldn’t intervene to turn it into a yellow.
Ultimately, it was more of a subjective than factual call and once the yellow was shown, there was no going back.
It’s this kind of 50/50 moment that has gone against Leeds United more often than not so far this season and it will start to threaten the club’s league position if it continues.
There is nothing the Whites can really do to change that, of course, so they have to buck their ideas up and ensure that they play well enough to not use poor refereeing as an excuse for losing games.
In other Leeds United news, this Whites ace dazzled at Selhurst Park and Sam Parkin was in awe while commentating for the BBC.