Premier League panel cast vote on two Leeds United vs Man Utd incidents including Gudmundsson red card claims
Two key incidents during Leeds United’s 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United have come under the microscope.
The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel have unanimously agreed that Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson correctly avoided a red card against Manchester United.
Gudmundsson was booked in the 19th minute of Leeds’ 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United earlier this month after a foul on Andrey Santos. The Swede was attempting to stay tight on his opponent and accidentally stepped on his Achilles while trying to change direction.
Reflecting on the challenge recently, Gudmundsson told BBC Radio Leeds: “I’m aware of when it [the tackle] happened in the Manchester United game; it didn't even feel like a yellow card.
“But then I saw it and I saw I wanted to step because I wanted to chase the movement and I wanted to set my foot down and I accidentally hit him. It was not on purpose, I really went in for the duel.”
Referee Darren England’s decision to brandish a yellow card was questioned by some pundits who believed Gudmundsson was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card. But the KMI panel voted 5:0 that the call - and VAR opting against recommending an on-field review - were both correct.
The KMI panel wrote in their findings: “The on-field call of a yellow card was supported for a reckless challenge by Gudmundsson. Contact was made on Santos' ankle as he looked to change direction, but with low force and below the threshold for serious foul play.”
Gudmundsson’s challenge was compared to that of Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, who was sent off 24 hours prior for a similar-looking challenge on Hull City’s Robinio Vaz. But the Premier League laid out its criteria for contact on the Achilles as an explanation.
Considerations for such tackles included ‘full/direct contact’, ‘high force and/or speed’, ‘high intensity and/or high degree of danger’ and ‘excessive force and/or endangers safety’. The KMI panel deemed Gudmundsson’s challenge low force while Sessegnon was adjudged to have made ‘high, full and forceful contact’ on Vaz.
The KMI panel also reviewed second-half claims for a Leeds penalty during the draw. Just after the hour mark, Whites captain Ethan Ampadu wanted a spot-kick after coming together with defender Harry Maguire.
Replays showed a stumble from Tarik Muharemovic looked to have affected both players with the KMI Panel once again unanimously backing referee England and VAR. In their published findings, the panel wrote: “The referee's call of no penalty was supported with the contact deemed to be below the threshold for a foul.”