MusaLeeds United manager Daniel Farke admitted his delight at seeing his side return to the top of the Championship table was tempered by frustration after officials ruled out a first-half goal in their 2-0 victory over Millwall on Wednesday evening.
A fine strike from Joel Piroe, which would have made it 2-0, was disallowed for offside against Brenden Aaronson. Replays, however, showed that the US international was level with the last defender.
Farke was particularly angered because the same set of assistant referees had been involved in Leeds’ match at Coventry in February, where Willy Gnonto’s late goal was controversially ruled out for offside.
While the decisions did not affect the outcome of either game—Leeds won both matches 2-0—Farke was left fuming after the final whistle. The victory over Millwall was secured thanks to an early own goal from Jake Cooper, who deflected Manor Solomon’s cross into his own net, and a stunning late strike from Ao Tanaka.
Farke said:
“I couldn’t be relaxed today. It didn’t influence the result, but I was annoyed tonight. What happened in the last weeks against us in decision making is not acceptable…
“What I do not like is that we got a call (from the refereeing body) after the Coventry game and it was more like ‘yes, you should have been awarded a penalty’ and it was (also) ‘clearly this was a goal which should have been allowed because Willy Gnonto was not in an offside position by three yards when he scored the ‘goal.’ They should have decided it better.
“And today, one game later with the same set of assistants, we have the same offside situation. In back-to-back games, the same assistants give the same offside (situation) which is never an offside.
“To be fair, this one was tight and more difficult to see than the Coventry game. Why do we have the rule? If in doubt, give it for the offense. It was such a great goal again.
“I have to calm down, but it was something which was difficult to accept.
“We have the same assistants for back-to-back games together and you can’t blame the referee. But what happened in the last game was hard to accept. But if it happens two times with the same assistants, it is difficult to accept.
“Because this can change more or less the outcome of a whole season. How many goals do they want to disallow?
“We can say ‘it’s a 2-0 win, whatever, it’s not important’…
“But of course, it’s important – it’s about the goal difference as well. Small details are always decisive and the amount of times it happens to us is hard to accept.”
Musa
Kwaghterna Garshagu
