Patrick Bamford and Daniel Farke make a dig at match officials over ‘unforgivable’ Leeds offside decisions vs Middlesbrough.
Leeds came away with a 1-0 win over Boro to boost promotion hopes in the Championship, with Daniel James scoring the only goal early in the game.
However, the match was not without controversy, as Leeds had two goals disallowed for offside—decisions that sparked frustration among players and staff alike.
Patrick Bamford thought he had scored his first goal of the season late in the match, only for it to be incorrectly ruled out.
Another goal, another ruled offside, another replays show onside. 0-1 pic.twitter.com/Ll8gfrmm3P
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 8, 2025
Both in the same game…
Refereeing quality in this league is the worst of the worst #LUFC pic.twitter.com/kUMOEDUvlD
— Totally Leeds (@TotallyLeeds) April 8, 2025
Post-match, Bamford took a sarcastic swipe at the officials, joking that it was “great to cap off a Leeds United milestone with a goal” despite the disallowed effort.
His comment highlighted his belief that the decision was unjust, a sentiment echoed by manager Daniel Farke, who was particularly critical of the officiating, noting it was the third time in two months the same assistant referee had wrongly disallowed a Leeds goal.
Meanwhile, Farke restrained his criticism of the officials to avoid a touchline ban, but his frustration was clear, especially over the disallowed goal by Ao Tanaka, which replays showed was comfortably onside, much like Bamford’s.
It was the same assistant referee, Darren Williams, who wrongly disallowed goals against Coventry and Millwall over the last two months.
Daniel Farke to Sky: “That’s the same linesman within the last 8 weeks, he has ruled three regular goals out at Coventry, [against] Millwall and today. And I wouldn’t say they were the most difficult decisions. So, why do we keep sending him to #LUFC matches?”
— Joe Donnohue (@JoeDonnohue) April 8, 2025
Leeds’ Daniel Farke: “I’m always on the side of the referees because I know it’s a really difficult job, but I’m struggling today. Two disallowed goals, when it’s a tight goal – perhaps the second goal for Patrick was tight.
“What I’m really struggling to find some proper words for, that we have the same assistant referee who has ruled out in the last eight weeks three regular goals offside for us.
“If they were difficult to see, I could perhaps live with the score incidents, but if it’s always two, three, four yards – why do we keep sending this assistant referee to games for Leeds?
“I don’t say anything, but if there is perhaps a coincidence with mistakes against us, at some point you should protect him at least and send him to a different game.
“I’m not sure why he’s always the assistant for us and I’m not sure why in each and every game he rules clear goals out that should stand for us.
“I’m struggling for words because we are playing here for such a big reward, going up to the Premier League, it’s about millions of pounds, then we allow ourselves to have this level – not the referee, I’m always on the side of the referee – of assistant performances, I’m struggling with this to be honest.
“I always want to be understanding. I could make my life easier saying we’ve won the game, everything’s fine. Against Coventry we won the game, against Millwall…but if you always have to fight against adversity it’s difficult. It’s hard to accept.”
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Middlesbrough’s Michael Carrick: “We’re disappointed because it’s the result and I think it shows where we feel we are as a team.
“It can’t derail us, it can’t knock us, it can’t affect the season.
“It doesn’t change the season in many ways, the season’s alive, there’s going to be ups and downs every week. We can’t expect to go on a run of always winning every game until the end of the season.
“It’s all to play for, we’re right in there and nothing changes from tonight.”
LeedsUnited.News spoke to legend referee Mark Clattenburg who criticised Williams…
“The two incorrect offside decisions are unforgivable. The same Assistant Referee has made earlier errors in the season and one would question how he is still operating at the top tier of the Football League.
“I am sure PGMOL and his coaches will be looking at this and trying to improve his future performances. The cry for VAR will rumble on in the Championship,” Clattenburg told LeedsUnited.News after full-time.
“They have goal line technology and maybe the next step is to have offside covered by the technology which are still factual decisions but wrong decisions can have a massive impact on a club.”
Speaking on talkSPORT on Tuesday night, Jermaine Pennant said: “I’ll go out there and say the officiating is absolutely shocking.
“I don’t know what kind of courses they need to do to get better, and maybe understand football a little bit more, and I’m all for VAR as well – it gets more right than wrong.”
Keith Hackett doesn’t believe Farke’s post-match comments crossed a line, but he does believe the Leeds manager should hold talks with Webb to discuss why these mistakes keep happening to his team from the same official.
“Having seen two good goals wrongly ruled out for alleged offside, I think that Farke was quite restrained,” Keith Hackett said to MOT Leeds News.
“I would suggest that he requests a meeting with Howard Webb to raise his concerns.
“He should at that meeting show the video clips and discuss each decision.”
Just take a moment to appreciate this from Bamford last night
#lufc #alaw #mot #leedsunited pic.twitter.com/1TO8iuuben
— DanielFarkeNot 𝕏 (@DanielFarkeBall) April 9, 2025
Twitter users reacted as Bamford and Farke make dig at the officials over ‘unforgivable’ Leeds offside decisions vs Middlesbrough…
@LeedsUnited43: Absolutely corrupt! What a joke
@LUFCGAZ84: And the @EFL and @FA_PGMOL will burry their heads in the sand rather than deal with it, as usual.
@_chloeeee_x: They see what they want to see
@benlufc1985: The club have to complain officially.
@LUFCAndy99: I see your question Farke and I’ll raise you one more, why is he allowed to continue officiating??? If I did that poorly at my job I would be sacked.
@SkyDaveLeeds1: The linesman could easily have cost us 3pts and possibly promotion today, I can only imagine Farke’s reaction if that had happened as it would also have massive pressure on him.
@leedsfc1981: Need to put in a complaint and insist he doesn’t offiaciate our games for the last 5 cos it could have cost us 2 points if not more it’d blatant cheating
@CarlPonty: If those decisions had cost Leeds points tonight, I’d have put the TV through the wall. They weren’t even tight decisions. The standard of officiating in the EFL means I’ll never moan about VAR again.
@DanielJ46083413: Referee had a decent night. That linesman needs investigating. He’s been bribed.
@AaacccccCcc: Fine incoming – EFL won’t like that truth.
@FPLren: Needs investigating tbh @EFL
@Leeds9whites: And credit to Farke for calling it out!
@JasonAppleyard: Awful decisions! Get him demoted
@Da33er1: The Football Leagues corrupt!!
@JenoLUFC: Well said Farke
@matteohib94: Same linesman that allowed coventrys miles offside goal at the weekend against Burnley. That’s 4 instances he’s failed to do his job in the last 2 months. It’s incompetent to keep him at this level when he’s clearly not good enough
@Samuel_JMurray: This is a scandal.
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