Daniel Farke has strongly questioned the decision to send off Gabriel Gudmundsson during Leeds United’s match with Crystal Palace, insisting the second yellow card shown by referee Thomas Bramall was a clear mistake.

The controversial moment came late in the first half when Gudmundsson was penalised for a challenge on Ismaïla Sarr. Having already been booked earlier in the game, the Leeds defender was shown a second yellow card and subsequently sent off, leaving his side to play the remainder of the match with ten men.

Farke Believes Decision Was Wrong

Speaking after the game, Farke made it clear that he did not believe the challenge even warranted a yellow card.

According to the Leeds boss, the tackle lacked pace and did not appear to be a tactical foul. He argued that the decision surprised many watching inside the stadium and on television, suggesting it was an obvious error that significantly impacted the match.

Farke also hinted that the referee initially appeared to forget Gudmundsson had already been booked before eventually producing the red card.

Brennan Johnson Comparison

The Leeds manager also pointed to another incident later in the match involving Brennan Johnson as an example of inconsistent refereeing.

Johnson, who had also received a yellow card earlier in the game, committed a challenge on James Justin that Farke felt was more reckless than Gudmundsson’s foul. However, the Palace player avoided further punishment.

Farke clarified that he was not necessarily calling for Johnson to be sent off but believed the two incidents should have been judged in a similar manner.

Red Card Changed the Game

Gudmundsson’s dismissal had a significant effect on the match, forcing Leeds to play the entire second half with ten players.

Farke acknowledged that being a man down created a major disadvantage for his team, estimating that losing an outfield player effectively reduces a side’s strength by around ten percent. Despite this setback, Leeds managed to hold on and secure a valuable point.

Leeds Show Resilience

Although frustrated by the refereeing decision, Farke praised his players for their determination to battle through the second half and still come away with a result.

The Leeds boss admitted the red card had influenced the match heavily but expressed relief that his team managed to find a way to earn a point despite the difficult circumstances.

For Leeds, the draw demonstrated resilience, even as the debate surrounding Gudmundsson’s controversial sending-off continues.