“Ex-FIFA Referee Responds to Cardiff vs. Leeds Incident, Fans Claim Law Misapplied”
Keith Hackett: Joel Bagan's Red Card Was Justified for Denying Leeds United a Goal-Scoring Opportunity Against Cardiff.
Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett posted on X (23 September) in response to a fan’s claim that referee Josh Smith misapplied the rules during Bagan’s foul on Wilfried Gnonto outside the Cardiff box.
Though Gnonto quickly got back on his feet and was then pulled down again inside the box by Bagan, Smith stopped play, awarded a free kick, and gave the Cardiff defender a straight red card.
Analyzing the incident, Hackett commented: “I reviewed the red card. One direction of play toward the goal? Yes.
Probability of controlling the ball? Yes. Was it a foul? Yes.
The DOGSO (denial of a goal-scoring opportunity) law was fulfilled, and the sanction was correct – he applied the law.”
Leeds United controversy vs Cardiff City With Hackett clarifying Bagan’s red card decision, focus shifted to Daniel Farke’s Leeds United performance against a 10-man Cardiff team, already sitting at the bottom of the table.
Despite Cardiff’s numerical disadvantage, it wasn’t an easy win for Leeds.
Just seven minutes later, Largie Ramazani scored a breakaway goal to give the Whites a 1-0 lead.
However, Leeds struggled to capitalize, and as the second half dragged on, boos could be heard from the away section as the pace of play slowed.
It wasn’t until the 87th minute that Joel Piroe’s goal sealed the 2-0 victory after Farke made several late substitutions, including bringing on the Dutchman.
A red card and a sixth winless game leave Cardiff in deep trouble without a manager.
But Leeds’ difficulties against teams that sit back will continue to raise concerns for Farke.
