'It's nonsense' - ex-Premier League referees discuss Patrick Bamford's controversial disallowed Crystal Palace goal

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has refused to cast verdict on Patrick Bamford's controversial disallowed goal against Crystal Palace but fellow retired official Mark Halsey is scathing of the decision.

Leeds have found themselves at the centre of another Premier League VAR storm following the club's 4-1 defeat at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.

United looked to have levelled through Bamford in south London but saw his strike chalked off by video assistant Mike Dean.

Palace defender Scott Dann had earlier opened the scoring before the Whites struck with a well-worked move as Mateusz Klich found Bamford in the penalty area.

Bamford's chipped finish, though, was disallowed upon instant replay with the top of his arm adjudged to have been beyond the last defender.

Criticism of the decision has been overwhelming - including from the scorer himself post-match - with pundits and supporters questioning whether the line used to determine the offside was drawn in the correct place or against the right defender.

Two ex-top flight match officials have now discussed the incident in detail, with the controversy and debate surrounding the decision rumbling on into the international break.

"I'm not going to defend it, I'm not going to back it," former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports.

"All I can say is on the day with what the VAR had at his disposal, that's where he drew the line with the image he had. That's the decision he took.

"I can't justify it, I can't say it is wrong and I can't say it is right - others will judge that.

"I don't know where Kouyate is like you, but that's what was available and that's what he made the decision on."

He added: "The images that were relayed to the VAR were the best that were available at that time and that's what he had to make his decision off.

"That's the image he had, that's where the lines were drawn and that's where he had to make his decision. That's the information he had at the time.

"He made his decision - offside. That's what he had, that's what he did."

Fellow retired referee Halsey was more opinionated in his review, believing the decision to be "nonsense".

“Regarding the offside on Saturday at Leeds, if it’s taking more than 30 seconds and you can’t tell in the first replay then it’s a goal," Halsey told talkSPORT.

“Yes, offside is factual. Yes, you can score with your shoulder or armpit. I’ve never seen a goal scored with an armpit.

“It’s nonsense. It’s absolute nonsense. Where did they draw those lines? Was it from the nearside defender or the far side defender because the far side defender looks like he’s playing him onside.

“We’ve not thought this through. I think everybody accepts that this was a goal. If you spoke to Roy Hodgson he would accept that was a goal.

“You’d have it for you and you’d have it against you. VAR was brought in for a clear and obvious error.”