Final Man United red card verdict given as Premier League panel speak out after agreement

Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel unanimously ruled that Gabriel Gudmundsson was correctly not sent off for his challenge on Andrey Santos in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Leeds.

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has unanimously backed referee Darren England's decision not to show Gabriel Gudmundsson a red card during Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Leeds United earlier this month.

Gudmundsson caught Andrey Santos on the calf with his studs and received a yellow card. Many observers believed the challenge warranted a red card that could have changed the game. However, the five-member KMI panel — comprising three former players or coaches, one Premier League representative, and one from Pro Ref — all voted that the on-field decision was correct and that VAR was right not to intervene.

The panel assessed the challenge as reckless rather than serious foul play. "Contact was made on Santos' ankle as he looked to change direction, but with low force and below the threshold for serious foul play," the reasoning stated. Former referees noted that the lower intensity of Gudmundsson's tackle, compared to similar incidents like Ryan Sessegnon's red card for Fulham, likely saved him from dismissal.