Man City 3 Leeds United 2: Lee Sobot's Video Verdict
Leeds United winger Willy Gnonto was the subject of a red card debate after Saturday's defeat at Manchester City.
Former striker Jay Bothroyd believes Willy Gnonto should have been sent off for a ‘kick out’ on Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders during Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Manchester City.
Gnonto conceded a free-kick during the first-half of Saturday’s Etihad meeting after fouling Reijnders while on the ground. The Leeds winger had been dispossessed in his own half and in a bid to reclaim the ball, made contact with the opponent just below knee level.
Reijnders was in some pain after the incident but referee Peter Bankes only gave a free-kick, deciding against any kind of card, with VAR not recommending an on-field review of the incident. But looking back at the foul, Bothroyd believes Gnonto ‘kicked out’ at the City midfielder and was therefore lucky to escape a red.
“I think that was a red card because he’s kicked out,” the former Cardiff City striker told Sky Sports’ Ref Watch. “We’ve seen red cards like that before where players have kicked out, we’ve seen one a few weeks ago.
“I think that should have been a red card because he kicked out, and he kicked out at his knee as well. By the letter of the law that should’ve been a red.”
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher disagreed, insisting there was not enough ‘violence’ in the act for it to constitute a straight red card. He did, however, warn it was not the wisest move from Gnonto at a time when Leeds were already struggling to keep City at bay.
“I think it's almost petulant,” Gallagher said. “I don’t think it’s a red card offence, I don't think there’s enough violence in it to be a red card offence. I think it's not the wisest thing to do but I don’t think it’s a red card.”
Agreement on Leeds United penalty verdict
One thing Bothroyd and Gallagher did agree on was the award of a Leeds penalty in the second-half. Daniel Farke’s side had halved City’s 2-0 lead at the time of the foul, with substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin on target before winning his side a spot-kick.
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A long Leeds ball found Jayden Bogle bursting down the right-hand side and his header went right into the path of Calvert-Lewin, who was bearing down on the City goal. The striker was challenged by Gvardiol who made clear contact to bring his opponent down before hooking the ball away from danger, with a VAR review supporting Bankes’ decision of penalty.
Asked what he made of the ‘tight’ call, Bothroyd responded: “What’s tight about this? He lunges into the attacker, he hasn’t touched the ball initially, he’s taken the man out before he’s touched the ball. It’s a guaranteed penalty. I don’t even know what we’re talking about here. That is not tight to me. It’s a guaranteed penalty all day long.”
And former referee Gallagher agreed with the call of penalty, insisting Bankes was ‘absolutely right’ to award the spot-kick. Gvardiol was not sent off for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity because of the double jeopardy rule, which states a red card should not be given if a genuine attempt to play the ball is made.
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