Leeds United’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough was a hard-fought victory that saw them return to the top of the Championship table. However, the match was marred by controversy, with two perfectly good goals being ruled out for offside.
The first goal to be disallowed was scored by Ao Tanaka, who prodded in a cross from Manor Solomon at the back post. Replays showed that Tanaka was clearly onside, but the assistant referee, Darren Williams, flagged for offside, and the goal was disallowed.
The second goal to be ruled out was scored by Patrick Bamford, who had been played in by Willy Gnonto. Again, replays showed that Bamford was onside, but Williams flagged for offside, and the goal was disallowed.
The incorrect decisions were met with frustration from the Leeds United players and staff, and former referee Mark Clattenburg described the errors as “unforgivable”. Clattenburg questioned how Williams is still operating at the top tier of the Football League, given his mistakes.
“It’s not the first time that Leeds United have had goals ruled out by this assistant referee,” Clattenburg said. “He’s made mistakes earlier in the season, and one wonders how he’s still officiating at this level.”
Clattenburg suggested that VAR should be introduced in the Championship to prevent such errors, particularly for crucial decisions like offside. “VAR is used in the Premier League, and it’s time it was introduced in the Championship,” he said. “It would help to prevent mistakes like this from happening.”
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke was left speechless by the decisions and chose not to comment further to avoid being banned from the touchline. Farke understood the importance of not getting himself banned from the touchline in the final five games of the season and chose to keep his thoughts to himself.
However, Farke’s frustration was evident, and he was clearly disappointed by the decisions. “I’m struggling to find the right words,” he said. “I don’t want to say anything that might get me into trouble, but it’s clear that the decisions didn’t go our way.”
Jermaine Beckford and Neil Warnock, both former professional footballers, were also critical of the decisions. They expressed their frustration on social media, with Beckford saying that the decisions were “harsh” and Warnock describing them as “ridiculous”.
Despite the controversy, Leeds United’s win saw them return to the top of the table, with Burnley drawing with Derby County and Sheffield United losing to Millwall. The win was a hard-fought one for Leeds, who will feel aggrieved by the incorrect decisions.
