admin“He should have been sent of the pitch that the RECKLESS and HARSH he deserves a Red card”- Former PGMOL boss and ex-Premier League referee Keith Hackett believes Leeds United Star should have been sent off after for his petulant and challenge.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has claimed Willy Gnonto should have been sent off during Leeds United’s dramatic defeat to Manchester City.
Leeds rallied from 2–0 down at half-time to draw level at the Etihad, only for Phil Foden to score a stoppage-time winner.
The comeback began after Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced at the interval, following a disappointing first-half showing.
Gnonto was among the poorest performers after being restored to the starting XI by under-pressure manager Daniel Farke.
Although he was substituted at half time, he was fortunate not to have his influence cut short earlier after avoiding punishment for an incident involving Tijjani Reijnders.
Hackett blasts Gnonto’s kick on Reijnders
Around 15 minutes into the game, and with Leeds already trailing after Gnonto failed to track Matheus Nunes for City’s opener, the Italian forward kicked out at Reijnders inside his own half.
While lying on the ground, he appeared to catch the midfielder high with his studs. Referee Peter Bankes issued only a brief warning, and VAR chose not to intervene.
Hackett argued that the offence was a straightforward red card and said the video officials failed in their duty by not sending Bankes to review the incident.
“Gnonto should have been sent off for that petulant challenge,” he told MOT Leeds News. “It was an unnecessary kick at an opponent and VAR should have sent the referee to the monitor.”
Farke’s tenure hanging by a thread
If nothing else, Farke can point to the second-half fightback as evidence that his players have not abandoned him. At half time the match appeared headed toward a heavy defeat and an inevitable dismissal in the coming fixtures.
That his substitutions — often criticised this season — sparked such a turnaround was notable. Manchester City’s jubilant 92nd-minute celebrations showed their relief, and Leeds fans were left with genuine frustration rather than resignation.
However, the 3–2 loss marked a fourth consecutive defeat, and with Chelsea and Liverpool up next, Farke’s future at Elland Road may already be nearing its conclusion.
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