Habib Diarra’s controversial second-half penalty gave Sunderland a 1-0 win at Leeds after the home side were not awarded a first-half spot-kick, a decision heavily criticised by Daniel Farke and former players.
The Black Cat’s highly contentious victory keeps Leeds just six points above the drop zone, with most of their fellow relegation rivals having a game in hand.
Diarra’s 70th-minute penalty winner, which took Sunderland to 40 points, was given after the VAR sent referee Stuart Attwell to the pitchside monitor for a handball by Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu when blocking Wilson Isidor’s shot.
Ethan Ampadu concedes a penalty for handball against Sunderland
Attwell adjudged Ampadu to have “deliberately handled”, but his decision was labelled “very harsh” by ex-Tottenham captain Michael Dawson on Soccer Special, adding, “I don’t know what he is supposed to do with his arm.”
Leeds’ fury with the decision was compounded after VAR had earlier opted not to intervene when Leeds defender Pascal Struijk was wrestled to the floor by Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien at a corner in the opening stages of the game.
Leeds boss Farke told TNT Sports: “It is not even a question. What was VAR doing in this scene? It can’t be a clearer penalty. It is tough to understand how this is not checked and not re-watched.
“I am pretty sure that Stuart [Attwell], who is such a quality ref, so experienced and so calm, if he had the chance to watch this back, he would have said, ‘All day long this is a penalty’.”
Meanwhile, Dawson said: “I think Leeds should have had a penalty. Struijk had arms around his neck – I can’t believe VAR didn’t get involved.”
Jayden Bogle and Ethan Ampadu remonstrate with referee Stuart Attwell
Former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford was left baffled too by the decision.
He told TNT Sports: “I’m so bemused as to how the referee and VAR officials have not given a penalty. It’s clear as day. Arms around the neck, he drags him down to the ground. How’s that not a penalty? It’s absolutely embarrassing.”
Sky Sports News understands the incident involving Struijk and O’Nien was looked at by VAR, but it was deemed that a clear and obvious error had not taken place.
VAR also denied Leeds a second-half opener as Joe Rodon’s 64th-minute header from Anton Stach’s free-kick was disallowed for offside.
Diarra’s winning penalty was Sunderland’s only shot on target at Elland Road as they ended a nine-game winless away league run to move up to 11th.
But a frustrating evening for Leeds, which saw Jaka Bijol miss two late chances, means the Whites remain 15th and looking over their shoulders.
Farke puzzled at loss despite dominance
Leeds manager Daniel Farke speaking at his post-match press conference:
“We had nearly 20 shots. We had so many set-pieces, corner kicks, free-kicks. We didn’t give one chance away.
“But somehow we lost this game. Our opponents are in the dressing room, probably struggling to explain how they won the game.
“We didn’t show the quality to bring the ball into the net. This is football, a very important topic, and the reason why we lost.
“It’s really frustrating and annoying to accept this result.”
Le Bris targeting high finish after hitting 40 points
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris speaking at his post-match press conference when asked what was next after reaching 40 points:
“Forty-three. I think step by step, this target was really important.
“We don’t know yet if it will be enough, because the season can be crazy and (relegation) still possible, because the race will be intense.
“But we still have nine games to play and if we keep the same mindset we can have other targets, (maybe) a bit higher, we’ll see.
“I told the players, if we win here, it means a lot. This place, if you win here, it feels a lot about the character, the intensity and the togetherness of the squad – and we did it.”
Opta stats: Sunderland win with second-lowest passing tally in PL this season
- Sunderland completed 143 passes in this game, the second-lowest tally by a winning team in the Premier League this season after Brentford v Aston Villa in August (128).
- This is just the fifth game in the Premier League this season to see a team win via just one shot on target, with Sunderland accounting for two of those (also v Newcastle United in December).
- Leeds have suffered back-to-back Premier League home defeats (also losing 1-0 to Manchester City) for the first time since April 2023, when they lost 5-1 to Crystal Palace and 6-1 to Liverpool.
- Across both Premier League and Championship, Leeds suffered their first defeat in their last 23 home evening (7pm or later) games (W20 D2).
- Of the 21 teams to concede 60+ penalties in the Premier League, Leeds have conceded the highest proportion of spot-kick goals, with their opponents converting 85% of them (67/79).
