‘I have had a look’ – Ex fifa ref react to Cardiff vs Leeds incident, fans says wrong in law

Keith Hackett says Joel Bagan’s red card was the right decision after denying Leeds United a chance to score against Cardiff.

   The former FIFA referee wrote on X (September 23) following suggestions from fans that referee Josh Smith had wrongly applied the law in Bagan’s foul on Wilfried Gnont outside the Cardiff box.

   Despite Gnonto immediately getting to his feet before being dragged back into the box by Bagan, Smith pulled away for a free-kick and showed the Cardiff defender a straight red card.

   Hackett said of the incident: “I looked at the red card.

   “Direction of play towards the goal? Yes; Probability of ball control? Yes; Was there a foul? Yes.

   “The DOGSO (direct goal obstruction) law was met and the penalty was correct – he applied the law.”

   Leeds United v Cardiff City

   With Hackett settling the controversy surrounding Bagan’s red card, attention will turn to the performance of Daniel Farke’s side against a depleted team sitting at the bottom of the table.

   Cardiff, reduced to 10 men, were unable to get past the Whites, although Largie Ramzani made it 1-0 with a breakaway goal just seven minutes later.

   From then on it was a malaise as the Peacocks struggled to convert their chances and whistles could be heard from the away side as the tempo of the game dropped considerably in the second half.

   Joel Piroe’s late goal eventually made it 2-0, but it wasn’t until the 87th minute that Farke finally brought on the Dutchman in a flash as one of several late substitutions from the bench.

   A red card and a sixth game without a win leaves Cardiff without a manager with plenty to worry about, but Leeds’ struggles against deep-seated sides will continue to pose questions for Farke.