It is a reflection of the standards being set at Leeds United that manager Daniel Farke was visibly angry in the wake of a 2-0 victory over Millwall which sent his side back to the top of the Championship.
His ire was not aimed at any of his players but rather the assistant referee who denied them a second goal in the first half by raising his flag for offside.
“I could be relaxed, because it didn’t influence the result but it annoys me really,” he told BBC Radio Leeds. “Because what has happened in the last weeks against us in terms of decision making is not acceptable.”
Joel Piroe and Brenden Aaronson combined with intricate footwork for the former to score a sumptuous goal.
As Piroe found the net, for what he thought was the 16th time this season, he had not seen the signal to quell his celebration as it was deemed his team-mate had been offside when back-heeling the ball into his path.
With 30 minutes on the clock, and the visitors showing little sign of troubling the host’s net, a 2-0 lead would have put the game to bed way before Ao Tanaka’s controlled finish five minutes from time.
“Back-to-back games for us and the same assistant gives an offside decision against us which is never offside.” Farke went on, referring to a late Willy Gnonto goal in the 2-0 win at Coventry City last month which was incorrectly ruled out by the same assistant.
“To be fair to him, it was tight and more difficult to see than the Coventry game anyhow.”
In real time Aaronson appeared onside, on the replay he appeared onside, so without VAR it is understandable why Farke was bemused how the official could feel convinced to immediately raise his flag.
Farke then added, “I say to myself why do we have the rule – if in doubt you give it to the offence anyhow. It was such a great goal.
“My feeling is, more or less, that if you are in doubt then make sure that I’m in the spotlight by waving the flag. This is more or less our new rule.”
In the laws of the game there is nothing specifically written to provide an advantage for the attacking team but it’s my understanding that assistants are trained that if they are not sure then do not flag.
The official must have been convinced. Just as referee Rob Jones was to not award Dan James a penalty after his legs were taken from under him in the defeat at Portsmouth. VAR would probably have called Jones to the screen and made him see what everybody else already had at Fratton Park.
“I have to calm myself down,” said Farke. “But this is one thing that is difficult to accept. You can’t blame the referee, he has to rely on the assistant.
“If it happens two times with the same assistant in back-to-back games it is difficult to accept because it can more or less change the outcome of the whole season.”
With or without technology, strikers miss chances, goalkeepers drop clangers, officials and managers make bad calls. There is imperfection everywhere in football, its just a shame when it denies the perfect goal.
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Daniel Farke,BBC Radio Leeds,Leeds United,Brenden Aaronson,goal,Joel Piroe,Ao Tanaka,Dan James,Gnonto
