Leeds United star Anton Stach was left with suspected ligament damaged after being halved by Max Kilman during the FA Cup win over West Ham.
It mattered not, as Leeds are on our way to Wembley thanks to a dramatic penalty shootout win over West Ham on Sunday.
However, the standard of officiating has once again left Leeds at a disadvantage in a game. Daniel Farke was left wondering how on earth his side were on the wrong end of yet further major talking points.
Anton Stach denied stonewall penalty as Max Kilman avoids obvious punishment
At 1-0, Leeds were looking to extend the lead that eventually came from the penalty spot. But, our nerves and hopes of tightening our grip in the first half would have been helped by Craig Pawson doing his job.
A fast breakaway saw Noah Okafor charge forward and release Anton Stach in the box for a first-time shot. As he shot, centre-back Max Kilman slid across to block the shot. But, he instead completely halved Stach well after the ball had gone.
Alphonse Areola made the save and VAR then checked for a possible penalty. Stach was left in a heap, unsurprisingly so after a horrible challenge from the Irons centre-back.
However, VAR Constantine Hatzidakis deemed it a ‘natural coming together’ and nothing was given.
It was already seen as a completely disgraceful decision by those of a Leeds persuasion. It was made even worse by Pawson moments later. As Lukas Nmecha looked to block a pass in the middle of midfield, he caught a West Ham player late in identical circumstances. Pawson played the advantage but then booked the German during a stoppage in play.
So, in one instance, it’s a coming together. In the other, it’s a bookable offence.
Anton Stach left with suspected ligament damage after West Ham horror tackle
Stach was forced off after that ‘coming together’, in significant distress with his ankle as Farke was forced into an early change.
Later in the game, the German international was spotted in a protective boot with crutches in the dugout, underlining the concern further (see background below).
Now, Adam Pope has shared the extent of the injury. Farke worries that his star midfield has suffered ligament damage in this incident.
An exhausted Farke says Okafor had cramp, Rodon turned his ankle & Stach may have done ligament damage to his ankle but needs assessing (after that challenge which should have been a penalty for #LUFC)
— Adam Pope (@apopey) April 5, 2026
As reported, Noah Okafor went off with cramp while Joe Rodon rolled his ankle. Stach shared this photo on Instagram highlighting the swelling to his ankle. And, he quoted what was presumably said to him by the clumsy Kilman:
Disgraceful officiating once again leaves Leeds United at disadvantage
It’s a good job it ultimately didn’t matter that we didn’t get this penalty. Kilman made sure he was clumsy enough to give away another, and we won anyway.
That being said, it’s actually just incredibly bad that we’re seeing these sorts of blatant errors made on a weekly basis.
Usually, we’re talking about these errors happening on the whole every week. But, now we’re talking about this volume of howlers happening to just Leeds.
Hopefully Stach is fine, but his ankle looks nasty, and that’s a major worry.
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