Richard Keys in disbelief at ‘incredible’ Leeds United footage vs Newcastle as VAR decision could send club down
Richard Keys was shocked that the officials awarded a second penalty against Leeds United for a handball by Junior Firpo as he didn’t believe footage showed he touched the ball.
Both Newcastle’s goals in the 2-2 draw at Elland Road on Saturday (13 May) came from Callum Wilson strikes off the spot, with the second awarded following a VAR review when the Whites left-back leapt with his hand in the air midway through the second half.
Leeds United substitutes claimed he had been pushed by Alexander Isak, but after a review Simon Hooper pointed to the spot, to leave Keys in disbelief over the decision.
Reacting on Twitter to the incident Keys wrote: “That decision could relegate Leeds. How can they give that? There’s no conclusive proof Junior handles it – in fact I’m not sure he did – the ball didn’t change direction at all. It’s an incredible call for me.”
Really?
It was slight but it looked pretty clear that Firpo had handled the ball in midair, and while it could be just about be argued he was nudged slightly it still didn’t explain why he had his arm up so high.
It was the third penalty incident the full-back had been involved in on the day, after he was felled by Joelinton on a strong burst into the box in the first half, after which his afternoon imploded.
Patrick Bamford contrived to miss that kick as his low confidence was put on display once more when Rodrigo seemed a more suitable taker, and just two minutes later Firpo fell to the turf for no reason right next to the advancing Isak, who was then needlessly taken out by Max Wober.
Wilson equalised from the spot on that occasion before putting his side ahead later on after the handball that Keys was certain never was.
Thankfully for Firpo, the rest of the Leeds United team managed to rally in the face of his wild second half, with Rasmus Kristensen’s deflected late strike rescuing a point.
After starting fairly well early in the game, Firpo seemed to lose all sense of what he was doing after the break, as he escaped a straight red for a lunge on Bruno Guimaraes, and wasn’t given a second yellow for the penalty incident.
He did eventually succeed in being dismissed as he brought down Anthony Gordon just outside the area in the dying minutes, to likely end his season, and possibly his stay at Elland Road.
The point keeps doom from the door for now, so perhaps avoided the penalty decision relegating the Whites as Keys dramatically claimed, but it surely needs to be three against West Ham next Sunday (21 May).
In other Leeds United news, a Whites ace had been “sulking”, and he still needed to “calm down” at Elland Road.