Leeds United were denied a penalty against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road
Leeds United fans are livid after being denied a "stonewall penalty" for handball against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road.
Mateus Fernandes appeared to divert a cross from Gabriel Gudmundsson with his upper arm inside the 18-yard box. Dominic Calvert-Lewin appealed with both arms up in the air after the ball was blocked from reaching him by the Spurs midfielder.
However, referee John Brooks allowed play to continue as Antonin Kinsky recycled possession for the visitors. Video assistant referee Tony Harrington checked the incident, deeming it hit the top of his arm rather than believing it to be a handball offence.
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Those watching on were left in no doubt, though, with supporters of other clubs saying the Whites were "denied a clear penalty". Others said Leeds "were robbed of a penalty", with a Sheffield Wednesday fan tweeting: "Hate Leeds with a passion but that's a stonewall penalty".
Another fan added: "That is literally up there with one of the worst decisions I've ever seen. Apart from him catching the ball, how clear can a handball get?"
Steven Gerrard also felt Fernandes got away with one, saying on TNT Sports: "I will say in slow motion it doesn't look good for him. It's extremely close. I think he's got away with one."
Fellow co-commentator Lucy Ward added: "He needs to be careful. He has his arm right out in an area. I've just looked at it, and it looks like it hits his shoulder."
The former Leeds and Spurs midfielder Michael Brown, though, thought it was a correct decision by Brooks. He said while watching the match for BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm fine with that not being a penalty, you'd be so unlucky if that went against you."
The Premier League Match Centre clarified its stance in a statement. It read: "The referee's call of no penalty to Leeds United was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Fernandes did not commit a handball offence." A quote attributed to the VAR says: "Confirming the on-field decision of play on. The ball strikes the very top of the arm as he is leaning – in the green zone."
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VAR also checked a potential red card on Jayden Bogle for a foul on Mathys Tel. Leeds' left-back caught the Spurs winger on the Achilles, contact which later forced Tottenham into a substitution.
The incident led to the Premier League Match Centre releasing another statement at half-time. It reads: "The referee's call of no red card to Bogle for the challenge on Tel was checked and confirmed by VAR.
The VAR said :"I'm confirming the on-field decision of no red card. There's a lack of speed going into the challenge and he's stepping into the tackle. Confirming a reckless challenge.'"