Gabriel Gudmundsson should not have been sent off in Leeds United’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel have ruled.
Referee Thomas Bramall appeared to forget he had already booked Gudmundsson when he served up a second yellow for a foul on Ismaila Sarr.
However, as reported by the BBC, the panel have decided there was "minimal contact" and "the challenge was careless and not clearly reckless".
Gabriel Gudmundsson was sent off in Leeds United's draw with Crystal Palace.placeholder image
Gabriel Gudmundsson was sent off in Leeds United's draw with Crystal Palace. | John Walton/PA Wire
VAR issue and another decision reviewed
As it stands, VAR is unable to intervene for reviews on second yellow cards. The technology was therefore powerless to prevent the 26-year-old having to take an early bath.
This is due to change next season, when referees will be able to review second bookings with the help of the pitchside monitor.
The panel also decided the referee was correct not to show a second yellow card to Palace’s Brennan Johnson in the 74th minute. They said his challenge on James Justin was not reckless and did not stop a promising attack.
Leeds had to do without the suspended Gudmundsson in their last outing, as they drew 0-0 with Brentford with Justin deployed in the Swede’s place at left wing-back.
Gabriel Gudmundsson missed Leeds United’s draw with Brentford due to a suspension.placeholder image
Gabriel Gudmundsson missed Leeds United’s draw with Brentford due to a suspension. | John Walton/PA Wire
Daniel Farke’s stance
Whites boss Daniel Farke had made his view on the red card clear post-match at Selhurst Park.
He said: “It was doubtful if it was a foul, it wasn't even close to a yellow card. There was no pace in the tackle, it wasn't a tactical foul, a yellow card.
"When you compare this situation with, for example, the situation in the second half when Brennan Johnson was there with a tackle with more pace, a clear tactical foul, this is not a yellow card. And I'm not asking for a yellow-red card for Brennan Johnson.
"If you have one player less, it means a 10 per cent difference. It influenced the game a lot. Thank God we found a way somehow to find a difference."