Leeds United have had their fair share of refereeing decisions go against them throughout the calendar year of 2024.
Back in April, Daniel Farke revealed how Leeds had received six letters of apology from PGMOL over the course of the 2023/24 season due to officials’ mistakes.
As the current campaign almost reaches the halfway point, Leeds have also been on the wrong end of their fair share of bad calls too.
Farke is often seen to be in the ear of the fourth official during matches and it is little surprise given some of the time-wasting tactics that are often used against them.
With that in mind, here is a look at the five worst refereeing decisions that have gone against Leeds this year.
Bristol City 0-1 Leeds (Feb 2) – Georginio Rutter no penalty
Thankfully referee Stephen Martin’s poor call in the first half of this game did not go onto cost Leeds as Wilfried Gnonto netted a second half winner to secure the three points.
However, there was no excuse for this decision. A free-flowing move from Leeds saw Patrick Bamford flick the ball into the path of Georginio Rutter, who was through on goal.
Just as Rutter had shaped to shoot, George Tanner took the Frenchman out, with replays showing he was no where near the ball.
Even former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher claimed it was a huge mistake, and it’s not often he goes against his officiating compatriots.
Leeds 2-0 Millwall (Mar 17) – Joe Rodon no penalty
Thankfully this abysmal refereeing performance from Stephen Martin, the same man who failed to award Rutter a spot-kick at Bristol City, didn’t prove costly.
Millwall defender Jake Cooper was the man in the thick of the action, who should not only have been sent off for numerous bad fouls, but also should’ve given away a penalty.
Cooper, who was already on a yellow card, completely barged into Joe Rodon inside the penalty area just as he had the chance to shoot, an incident Martin somehow missed.
Gallagher was confused at how Cooper managed to escape unpunished for this one, though Leeds did go onto win anyway.
Leeds 0-0 Sunderland (Apr 9) – Luke O’Nien no handball
This really was in crunch time of Leeds’ promotion push last season and so for referee Tim Robinson to miss a penalty as stonewall as this, was unacceptable.
Leeds had been really struggling to break down Sunderland at Elland Road but got the chance to deliver a corner in the second half, that was about to meet the head of Rodon.
However, Black Cats centre-back Luke O’Nien quite clearly punched the ball away with an outstretched arm, that somehow wasn’t spotted. The decision was that bad, O’Nien even mocked it after the match.
Patrick Bamford could not believe Leeds weren’t given it, but that was just the way things were going for Farke’s side at that stage of the season.
Blackburn 1-0 Leeds (Nov 30) – Tyrhys Dolan no red card
There are some shockers on this list but the decision from Lewis Smith not to brandish a red card for Tyrhys Dolan in Leeds’ recent defeat at Blackburn Rovers was the worst.
Smith was stood just a matter of yards away from the incident as Junior Firpo pounced on a bouncing loose ball first, before being absolutely clattered by Dolan.
Dolan’s challenge was no where near the ball, studs up, had plenty of intent and shin high, yet somehow Smith decided to only give him a yellow.
Farke was absolutely perplexed by the decision, and with half-an-hour still to play when this incident took place, it could have swung the game back in Leeds’ favour.
Preston North End 1-1 Leeds (Dec 14) – Ben Whiteman no handball
There are some pretty horrific decisions on this list but saving the worst until last is the atrocious non-award of a red card against Preston North End’s Ben Whiteman earlier this month.
With North End 1-0 ahead, Whiteman went lunging into a challenge on Jayden Bogle having already been booked, catching him with his studs on the follow through.
Somehow, to the bemusement of everyone inside the stadium and watching on TV, referee John Busby opted against giving him his marching orders.
Needless to say, Whiteman was then brought off at half-time to protect him from being sent off, with Paul Heckingbottom admitting afterwards he should’ve seen red.
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