Mark Clattenburg savages 'unforgivable' decisions that went against Leeds as he calls for Championship to adopt VAR

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has slammed two "unforgivable" decisions that went against Leeds during their clash with Middlesbrough.

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• Leeds won the game 1-0
• Two goals incorrectly ruled out
• Clattenburg calls for VAR adoption

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Leeds beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in the Championship on Tuesday evening but two goals scored by Daniel Farke's side were incorrectly ruled out for offside. Daniel James scored early on and Ao Tanaka and Patrick Bamford followed up by hitting the back of the net as well, although both goals were wrongly disallowed.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Clattenburg, a former top referee who has officiated the finals of the Champions League and the European Championships, believes both decisions are "unforgivable" and insists it is yet more evidence that VAR must be introduced in the second-tier.

• WHAT MARK CLATTENBURG SAID

  Clattenburg said, per Leeds-Live: "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.

  "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."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Leeds are top of the Championship, and are level on points with second-placed Burnley. Third-placed Sheffield United are two points behind.