Mike Dean believes Matt Donohue was correct not to award Leeds United a penalty in the first half of their match against Southampton.
Daniel Farke’s team were defeated 2-1 at Elland Road on Saturday (4 May), with Joel Piroe’s first-half strike serving just as a consolation.
The Whites thought they should have been awarded a penalty kick after Georginio Rutter was hauled down in the final moments of the first half, but Dean did not believe there was enough contact to establish a foul.
Speaking on Sky Sports News (4 May, 13:18), he said: “Yeah, it’s right on.
“It looks like there is contact from one angle but when you see the one that we’ve just seen there’s no contact so it’s a good decision from Matt Donohue the referee.”
Should Leeds United and Georginio Rutter have taken a penalty against Southampton?
Leeds United will believe that Rutter was caught on the foot as he broke into the penalty area, and while there was some touch on the striker’s foot, it appeared like he may have gone down too quickly.
The striker was under pressure, but he was going down a dead end, so he dived to the floor to try to steal a penalty kick. On another day, it could have been given, but the Whites’ luck was obviously out on Saturday.
Finally, even if the penalty had been awarded, it would not have changed the outcome because Ipswich Town defeated Huddersfield Town. Farke’s team will have to settle with a spot in the playoffs.
It’s unclear whether Leeds can still earn promotion, but the Whites will need players like Rutter to pick up their game. The Frenchman has not been at his best in recent weeks, and with Patrick Bamford out, Farke requires a steady source of goals.
