It has been explained why VAR was not allowed to intervene
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
11:50, 01 Dec 2025
Daniel Farke was meanwhile very unhappy with another incident
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Daniel Farke was meanwhile very unhappy with another incident(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher says the assistant referee made an error in not flagging Phil Foden offside in the lead up to Manchester City’s second goal against Leeds United on Saturday.
After taking a corner, Foden latched onto a misguided header from Josko Gvardiol to flash in a shot that Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri had to athletically palm behind. It was from this second corner that Gvardiol found the net after Perri made a hash of his punch.
Replays showed that Foden had come from an offside position upon taking the initial shot that led to the second corner. The assistant referee missed this despite the action occuring on his side of the pitch.
Appearing on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch programme, Gallagher explained why VAR could not have intervened. He said: “When the corner is taken by Foden, the assistant is forced to move to go level with the last defender. Foden is on his right-hand side so he doesn't see him.
“Gvardiol heads the ball first time back to Foden who is in an offside position. He takes the ball in, strikes it. Wins a corner. VAR couldn't get involved because it wasn't a goal. They can only deal with the situations with the protocol.”
Foden in an offside position
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Foden is in an offside position(Image: BBC Match Of The Day)
There were complaints from some onlookers that Perri had been fouled amidst the second goal, with Bernardo Silva seen backing into the Brazilian. VAR cleared it after checking whether Silva had impeded Perri from an offside position.
Former England international Jay Bothroyd believes Silva had in fact fouled Perri in the first place. “I have been very hard on goalkeepers, saying they need to be stronger, but in this instance I think this should have been given as a foul on Lucas Perri,” he said.
“He starts in a position which is fine, but when he backs into the keeper, even though he lets go of him, it's that split second that stops the keeper getting around to the ball. So I think that should have been a foul and the decision was wrong.”
Daniel Farke was meanwhile very unhappy with Gianluigi Donnarumma in the second half, with the Man City goalkeeper going down with a “fake injury” to instigate a tactical timeout for his teammates during a period where Leeds had the hosts on the ropes.
"Everyone knows why he went down," Farke said in his post-match press conference. "It is not the elephant in the room. Why he went down, it was obvious. It is within the rules. It is smart.
“If I like it? If it's within the sense of fair play? If it should be like this I will keep to myself. It is up to the authorities to find a solution. I ask the fourth official at this point if you want to do something. Our hands are tied.”
Gallagher confirmed this to Sky, stating: “The referee is hamstrung. You're not a physio, you're not a doctor. There is nothing a ref can do.”
Farke went on to state: "If we don't educate our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship and whatever and if we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is not what I like personally.
"But if it is within the rules I can't complain. Maybe we have to change the rules."
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