Dermot Gallagher has told Sky Sports News’ Ref Watch that Leeds United should have been awarded a free-kick for a foul on Illan Meslier – after Harry Kane scored Tottenham Hotspur’s first goal during Saturday’s 4-3 defeat in London.
Crysencio Summerville had opened the scoring and Leeds looked good for their lead. But Spurs equalised, when a corner was swung in. Meslier went to punch the ball away, but contact was made and his punch was soft.
The ball bounced to Kane. A neat touch and a lovely finish found the top corner, with Meslier and Spurs defender Clement Lenglet bundled over in the back of the net. Meslier was prevented from being able to stop Kane’s shot.
Ex-Premier League referee Gallagher says that Leeds should have been given a free-kick for a foul on Meslier. Replays showed Lenglet barging Meslier over. He thinks VAR must have thought it was not a clear and obvious error.
“Lenglet clearly fouls the goalkeeper, for me. The big clue for me is that the goalkeeper is in the air, he has got to play the ball. Lenglet runs into him and they’re very, very lucky to get a goal,” Gallagher said, on Sky Sports News.
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“We have this thing where you say goalkeepers are over-protected. Well, he wasn’t there. I was surprised there was no foul. I can only presume that VAR have ruled it is not a clear and obvious error.”
Gallagher: Leeds should have been awarded free-kick for foul
Without a doubt, Gallagher is bang on. For VAR to look at the replays and think that the referee did not make a mistake is barbaric. The referee has watched the incident once, with plenty going on – as there is from a corner.
How can they really entrust the referee to have seen everything going on? Even Lenglet’s push is covered somewhat by Spurs. Jesse Marsch spoke after the match, saying that the fourth official had told him he thought it was a foul.
Leeds have been cheated, there. But ultimately, Tottenham were always going to get chances and had Kane’s goal been disallowed, it is up in the air as to debate whether Leeds would have still got something out of the match.
