Keith Hackett has expressed his disappointment over the apparent lack of VAR intervention during Leeds United’s recent defeat to Nottingham Forest. Despite initially taking the lead through Lukas Nmecha’s goal following a remarkable double save by Lucas Perri, the Whites eventually succumbed to a 3-1 loss as Nottingham Forest staged a powerful comeback led by goals from Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Elliot Anderson.
The match was ripe with controversy as Hackett highlighted a pivotal incident in the first half where Nottingham Forest were seemingly denied a clear penalty. The pivotal moment occurred towards the end of the first half when a ball was delivered into the penalty area and Igor Jesus appeared to be fouled by Jaka Bijol. However, the referee, Jarred Gillet, opted not to award the penalty, a decision that surprised Hackett. Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Hackett emphasized that the sustained holding offence by Bijol impeded the Forest player’s movement and should have warranted a penalty kick. The absence of VAR intervention in this instance further compounded the frustration for Hackett, who expected the technology to correct such clear-cut decisions.
Looking ahead, the defeat to Nottingham Forest only exacerbates Leeds United’s struggles in what has been a challenging season. As the Whites face an arduous run of fixtures including matches against the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool, their prospects of securing points appear increasingly bleak. The daunting fixture list, coupled with their inconsistent form, paints a grim picture for Leeds as they strive to navigate through a demanding stretch of games. Amid uncertainties regarding their ability to secure victories in the coming matches, Leeds United finds themselves facing an uphill battle in maintaining their position in the league standings.
