This week saw Daniel Farke and Leeds United fall to two consecutive defeats in the Premier League. Now, the club’s top flight status is looking shaky with other clubs having taken advantage of the slip up.
The losses to Manchester City and Sunderland were games that fans felt the Whites could have made the most of. Against City, they failed to take their chances and were punished. It was similar to the Sunderland defeat, which also saw the club let down by poor quality in attack. But that was not the only talking point from these two games, as one big issue dominated the headlines.
Tony Pulis speaks out on Daniel Farke sanction
Daniel Farke was sent off at the end of the Manchester City tie after approaching referee Peter Bankes. The German boss confronted the official about the time added on, after he believed City’s stoppages should have seen more added on. Former Premier League boss Tony Pulis has had his say on the incident and the subsequent sanction.
“Leeds boss Daniel Farke was sent off for questioning the referee’s time-keeping at the end of Leeds’ 1-0 defeat by Manchester City,” Pulis wrote in his BBC Sports column.
“I felt for him – for years and years, the managers of the so-called smaller Premier League clubs have had an inward belief that the top teams tend to get more decisions go their way than they do. I certainly did!
“The time being added on at the end of a game is getting longer and longer, with both teams often complaining about the rationale of the referee’s decision.”
Pulis then suggested a way that could solve the disputes about time added on in Premier League games. The use of time keepers in other sports sees them better manage stoppages and delays, so the 68-year old thinks that should be brought into football.
“I have always believed that every game should have a time-keeper working in unison with the referee, and showing everyone in the stadium, including supporters, when the clock is stopped and restarted,” Pulis added.
“Rugby union uses this method, and it works so well. With stoppages, like the types we see in football when injured goalkeepers go down, or for substitutions and any other significant breaks, we can see the clock stop and start by the referee’s signal, but the time-keeper is overseeing it all.
“Referees have enough on their plates today dealing with the ghosts of Stockley Park and their video assistant referees (VAR), let alone guessing what time to add on.”
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Club made the right decision after FA charge
Daniel Farke accepting the charge is the best decision he could make in this situation. Instead of challenging the case and getting suspended for more than one game, taking the one-game ban was the best result. Now, he will only miss the FA Cup tie against Norwich City, which will mean he will be available for crucial upcoming games. Leeds United have huge fixtures ahead of the international break against Brentford and Crystal Palace. It would have been more difficult without Farke on the touchline, but now, they will have him available.
