Leeds United: Ex-Premier League referee slams ‘serious’ incident in Huddersfield Town draw
Leeds United’s last opponents Huddersfield Town should have been reduced to nine men last weekend, according to former Premier League and FIFA referee Chris Foy.
Matty Pearson was only booked for a late tackle on Crysencio Summerville in the first-half, moments before Jonathan Hogg was sent off for the Terriers after a separate incident.
Foy believes it was “serious foul play” by the Huddersfield centre-back and that he should have been sent off.
The Whites went on to draw 1-1 at the John Smith’s Stadium with Summerville on the scoresheet in the second-half.
Foy has told Sky Sports (5 March): “Following Leeds No 10 passing the ball towards a team-mate, Huddersfield Town No 4 makes a challenge with no attempt to play the ball. The challenge results in high and full contact, with the studs on the back of the calf of Leeds No 10.
“The challenge has no prospect of playing the ball and results in a high point of contact with sufficient force to endanger the safety of the opponent and, in my view, he is very fortunate to escape a red card.
“Although there isn’t a great deal of speed, the high point of contact and degree of force in the challenge, mean that it endangers the safety of the Leeds United player and a red card for serious foul play would be appropriate.”
Leeds United’s last opponents should have had another man sent off
With respect to Huddersfield, Leeds would have probably won if their opponents had nine men after the interval.
The Terriers were well drilled and tough to break down, despite having 10 men on the field, but one less would have been too tricky to hold out.
Daniel Farke’s side had to settle for a point which wasn’t ideal with their promotion rivals Ipswich Town and Southampton winning against Plymouth Argyle and Birmingham City respectively. However, it was obviously better than losing for the Whites and table toppers Leicester City also lost to QPR which was a bonus.
Referees need to be getting decisions right at this stage of a season when promotions and relegations on the line. It is hard without VAR though.
Leeds are still unbeaten in their last 10 Championship outings and are on a roll as they chase down the top two with a home clash against Stoke City up next.
In other Leeds United news, a midfielder’s potential exit is now in doubt.
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