Leeds United legend hits out at 'blatant' VAR mistake vs Brentford in damning 47-word verdict
Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin had claims for a penalty waved away during Sunday’s Premier League game.
Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford has hit out at VAR for failing to spot a ‘blatant penalty’ during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford.
Leeds took an impressive point from the Gtech Community Stadium, coming from behind to earn a draw for the second consecutive game. The Whites went behind thanks to Jordan Henderson but Dominic Calvert-Lewin drew his side level on 82 minutes with his fourth goal in as many games.
Referee John Brooks did point to the spot once during Sunday’s Premier League meeting, having adjudged Gabriel Gudmundsson to have fouled Dango Ouattara in the first half. Replays showed contact on the Brentford winger was minimal and a lengthy VAR check eventually ruled him offside, with the decision overturned.
Shortly after half-time, Calvert-Lewin wanted a penalty following a tussle with Brentford defender Nathan Collins, although his request was swiftly waved away by Brooks. Replays showed there was more contact than the spot-kick he did award with the Leeds striker seemingly pulled back by his shoulder.
Quoting a video snippet of the incident on X, Beckford wrote: “So many officials could’ve looked at this blatant penalty & help the referee who clearly missed it. DCL was blatantly dragged down. Unless he screams at the ref & makes a show of being fouled nothing happens. The point of VAR was to help in situations like this! Disappointing”.
Daniel Farke’s verdict on key referee decision
Leeds boss Daniel Farke was also unhappy with the officiating on Sunday, albeit his focus was on a penalty that was awarded. Gudmundsson was baffled at being penalised for a supposed foul and it took a tight offside call for the decision to be overturned, although referee Brooks might also have been sent to the screen had Ouattara been onside.
"We haven't allowed any chances other than the gift the referee wanted to present Brentford and we were relying on a 1cm offside from VAR," Farke said. "I'm always on the side of the referee, I know John Brooks wanted to be there with his best decisions. Today I don't like the level of consistency.
“We have the toughest league, then we give such a soft penalty away without even thinking about it. Even when you cross your fingers for Brentford, you see the ball goes six yards over the offensive player, he can't reach it and just goes down. Then we have to wait for five minutes for VAR to rule it out with a 1cm VAR.
“The same player in the 95th minute, when Joe Rodon is blocked away and you say 'come on play on' and you can concede. I want to see how we would talk about it had we lost from the penalty or this decision. I'm not annoyed with my players, but today as much as I like John normally, he's an excellent referee, the level of consistency was not spot on."