Former referee says Leeds United’s goal should have stood.
Mark Clattenburg has told The Mail that Leeds United’s goal against Aston Villa was right to stand.
Aston Villa players and staff were left furious after Leeds’ goal came when Jonathan Kodjia lay injured.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa then instructed his players to allow Aston Villa to score.
Clattenburg believes Aston Villa were at fault for not playing to the whistle.
He said: “The bottom line is, the injury to Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia was not to his head, so Leeds United’s players were well within their rights to play on.
“Villa were furious but they should have played to referee Stuart Attwell’s whistle.
“There is nothing in the rules to say Attwell should have stopped play so Kodjia could receive treatment and Villa were fortunate Leeds felt like giving them a goal back.”
Martin Keown however felt that Marcelo Bielsa did the right thing, considering Leeds could face Villa again in the play-off final.
The ex-Arsenal defender told The Mail: “Leeds and Aston Villa could yet meet in the play-offs. Bielsa was wise to draw a line under this now.”
The context of the game was important. Leeds had more to lose than gain by winning in this way.
Would the same scenario play out at Wembley, with promotion on the line? Lets hope there is no repeat and we don’t have to find out.
There is simply too much at stake for the final to be decided on a moment of controversy.
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