Premier League Match Centre issues statement after Leeds vs Aston Villa controversy

The Premier League have explained why Lukas Nmecha's goal for Leeds was allowed to stand, despite Aston Villa protests. Leeds went 1-0 up after just eight minutes at Elland Road on Sunday with a scrappy goal from a set piece.

Sean Longstaff swung in a deep free-kick which Gabriel Gudmundsson attacked at the back post. His touch sent the ball up into the air and Leeds midfielder Anton Stach challenged Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez in the air.

The ball dropped onto the line, where Ezri Konsa cleared the ball straight into the shin of Nmecha, who scored the easiest goal he will ever manage. Referee Rob Jones awarded the goal, despite protests from Villa, with medical staff coming on to treat Martinez and Stach.

After a long process, which saw VAR Paul Tierney check for offside against Gudmundsson, a foul by Stach on Martinez and a possible handball by the Leeds midfielder, the goal was allowed to stand.

The Premier League Match Centre wrote: "The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Gudmundsson in an onside position in the build-up.

"The VAR also checked the decision of no offside offence against Nmecha – with it deemed that he did not impact Martinez after Stach played the ball. Contact on Martinez prior to the goal was also deemed to not be a foul."

It was the perfect start for Leeds, who dropped into the relegation zone after Saturday's games, with West Ham drawing 2-2 at Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest winning 3-0 at Liverpool .

"It is a big moment in the game. They needed an opportunity, Leeds," former Leeds and Villa defender Stephen Warnock said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Villa don't defend it convincingly at all and Martinez doesn't cover himself in glory at all."

Stach ended up going off as a concussion replacement minutes later, with Leeds manager Daniel Farke forced to bring on Ao Tanaka in the 23rd minute.

Interfering with the goalkeeper is a hot topic in the Premier League at the moment, with Manchester City furious that Newcastle's second goal from Harvey Barnes was allowed to stand in their 2-1 win on Saturday night.

Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed he was pushed in the build-up to the winner and City defender Ruben Dias said the rules must be cleared up. "I feel we need to make it make sense because what is the sense in their player pushing our keeper outside the goal?" he said. "What are we allowing, and for how long? It's more like sometimes you allow it, sometimes you don't, so where's the rule, what can you actually do?"

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