Habib Diarra’s controversial second-half penalty gave Sunderland a 1-0 win at Leeds after Daniel Farke’s side were not awarded a first-half spot-kick, a decision heavily criticised by former players.
The Black Cat's highly contentious victory keeps Leeds just six points above the drop zone, with most of their fellow relegation rivals having a game in hand.
Diarra's 70th-minute penalty winner, which took Sunderland to 40 points, was given after the VAR sent referee Stuart Attwell to the pitchside monitor for a handball by Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu when blocking Wilson Isidor's shot.
Attwell adjudged Ampadu to have "deliberately handled", but his decision was labelled "very harsh" by ex-Tottenham captain Michael Dawson on Soccer Special, adding, "I don't know what he is supposed to do with his arm."
Leeds' fury with the decision was compounded after VAR had earlier opted not to intervene when Leeds defender Pascal Struijk was wrestled to the floor by Sunderland's Luke O'Nien at a corner in the opening stages of the game.
Dawson said: "I think Leeds should have had a penalty. Struijk had arms around his neck - I can't believe VAR didn't get involved."
Former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford was left baffled too by the decision.
He told TNT Sports: "I'm so bemused as to how the referee and VAR officials have not given a penalty. It's clear as day. Arms around the neck, he drags him down to the ground. How's that not a penalty? It's absolutely embarrassing."
Sky Sports News understands the incident involving Struijk and O'Nien was looked at by VAR, but it was deemed that a clear and obvious error had not taken place.
VAR also denied Leeds a second-half opener as Joe Rodon's 64th-minute header from Anton Stach's free-kick was disallowed for offside.
Diarra's winning penalty was Sunderland's only shot on target at Elland Road as they ended a nine-game winless away league run to move up to 11th.
But a frustrating evening for Leeds, which saw Jaka Bijol miss two late chances, means the Whites remain 15th and looking over their shoulders.
Opta stats: Sunderland win with second-lowest passing tally in PL this season
- Sunderland completed 143 passes in this game, the second-lowest tally by a winning team in the Premier League this season after Brentford v Aston Villa in August (128).
- This is just the fifth game in the Premier League this season to see a team win via just one shot on target, with Sunderland accounting for two of those (also v Newcastle United in December).
- Leeds have suffered back-to-back Premier League home defeats (also losing 1-0 to Manchester City) for the first time since April 2023, when they lost 5-1 to Crystal Palace and 6-1 to Liverpool.
- Across both Premier League and Championship, Leeds suffered their first defeat in their last 23 home evening (7pm or later) games (W20 D2).
- Of the 21 teams to concede 60+ penalties in the Premier League, Leeds have conceded the highest proportion of spot-kick goals, with their opponents converting 85% of them (67/79).
