Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenberg called on top flight referees to do "homework" after the incident involving Anton Stach at the London Stadium
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
12:00, 08 Apr 2026
Craig Pawson has come under fire from ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenberg
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Craig Pawson has come under fire from ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenberg(Image: 2026 Izzy Poles - AMA)
Former Premier League and FIFA referee Mark Clattenberg is adamant that Leeds United ought to have had a first-half penalty against West Ham United after a tackle on Anton Stach.
The German managed to get a shot away in the 34th-minute of Sunday's FA Cup tie when sprinting onto a Noah Okafor through-ball, but ended up injured after Hammers defender Max Kilman collided with his leg once the ball had gone.
Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola saved the shot and ultimately the corner was given rather than a penalty, despite Kilman’s late tackle. Stach had to hobble off a few minutes after receiving on-pitch treatment and later shared an image of his swollen ankle. He is now a doubt for Monday's clash with Manchester United.
VAR was in operation for the quarter-final clash but - unlike Kilman’s tackle on Brenden Aaronson in the second half, from whom Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored - the officials back in Stockley Park did not intervene.
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Daniel Farke later bemoaned this and Clattenberg is clear also that Leeds were denied a spot-kick.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Leeds United should have been awarded a penalty kick in their exciting FA Cup match v West Ham,” Clattenberg said, as per Leeds United News. “The challenge by Max Kilman on Anton Stach was reckless catching his opponent on the foot without touching the ball. The only way a penalty kick could not be awarded is if the ball is out of the field of play when the challenge was made.
“We can see from the replay that the ball was in play. I do not accept the VAR’s explanation that it was a coming together of two players.
“This was a clear foul and does not excuse the fact that the Leeds United forward made a shot to goal before the contact.”
Anton Stach is challenged by Max Kilman inside the box
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Anton Stach is challenged by Max Kilman inside the box(Image: Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
Former top-flight official Keith Hackett concurred with Clatennberg, telling Football Insider: “Playing the ball is not an excuse for a foul being committed. The player has come in late enough for the player to get his shot away.
“That shouldn’t matter. He’s wiped the player out. At the very least, it’s careless. But because there’s excessive force in the challenge, there are elements of recklessness.
“He’s come in at pace, so he can’t stop, and his actions have endangered the safety of his opponent. It’s beyond me that referees aren’t judging that as a foul.
“There’s no malice, so it’s not serious foul play, but if it’s not even seen as reckless, then it has to be careless, and therefore, a penalty. The match officials have got it wrong.
“The debate needs to go further, with PGMOL referees sitting around a table and watching video clips of these types of challenges. They’ve got to do some homework on it. There’s too much inconsistency in the approach for these challenges.”
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