Leeds United’s penalty appeal against Manchester United has come under fresh scrutiny after former refereeing chief Keith Hackett claimed the hosts should have been awarded a spot-kick in their 1-1 Premier League draw.
The controversial incident occurred midway through the second half at Elland Road. Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu went to ground after an apparent pull by Manchester United defender Harry Maguire during a corner.
Referee Darren England waved away the appeals, and VAR did not recommend an on-field review.
However, Hackett believes the officials made the wrong call and should have given England another opportunity to assess the incident.
Former Referee Questions VAR Decision
Speaking to MOT Leeds News, Hackett criticised Maguire’s challenge and argued that the defender had committed a foul.
He also suggested that VAR should have intervened to allow the referee to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Hackett questioned whether the officials’ approach to VAR had prevented an appropriate review of the penalty appeal.
His comments have added to the debate over the decision, although his assessment represents the view of a former referee rather than an official ruling on the incident.
Hackett Also Questions Ampadu Booking Decision
Hackett also argued that Ampadu should have received a yellow card for a first-half challenge on Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo.
He described the tackle as reckless and suggested the referee may not have fully judged its speed and intensity.
The former refereeing chief further raised concerns about the demands placed on officials during a busy weekend of Premier League fixtures.
He suggested that referees need sufficient recovery time between appointments to maintain concentration and make accurate decisions.
Calvert-Lewin Rescues a Point for Leeds
The penalty controversy came during a competitive encounter that ended 1-1.
Manchester United took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo in the first half before Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised for Leeds after the break.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke said he was disappointed not to take all three points. He felt his team had controlled much of the contest and created opportunities to win.
Farke also criticised his side’s finishing and crossing, saying those shortcomings prevented Leeds from making the most of their second-half momentum.
Despite the draw, Leeds extended their unbeaten Premier League run against Manchester United to three matches.
The result also left Manchester United with 10 points from their opening seven league games, according to the supplied report.
The debate over the penalty appeal is likely to continue among supporters, but the match officially ended with both sides sharing the points.