EFL make official decision on Darren Williams after Leeds United controversy..
Darren Williams has stolen a lot of Leeds United headlines following the Whites’ win at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. Needless to say, he’s not stolen headlines for the right reasons.
Darren Williams has become a villain among Leeds United fans following the 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
The positives of that night was that the win lifted Leeds United all the way from 3rd into 1st place of the Championship table after both Burnley and Sheffield United dropped points on the same night.
It’s lifted a lot of pressure that was building on both the players and on manager Daniel Farke, who may have been left feeling slightly foolish after he said Leeds United will 100% be promoted this season.
That statement may yet come true but Farke will hope for no more woeful refereeing calls. Williams ruled out Ao Tanaka’s goal against Middlesbrough and Patrick Bamford’s too, with Farke criticising the officials after the game.
It was then revealed that Williams has cost Leeds United goals already this season; now three in the last two months.
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Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
EFL demote Darren Williams after Leeds United controversy
The EFL appointments are out for the weekend’s fixtures. And Leeds United fans will be delighted to know that Williams isn’t on the list of officials for their game, nor is he on the list of officials of any other Championship game over the course of the weekend.
In fact, he’s been demoted to League One for what will be just the fourth time this season. Williams has officiated 35 Championship games so far in 2024/25 and the EFL’s decision to put him in League One after the controversies of Tuesday night might be purely coincidence, or it could be in reaction to his awful performance that night.
Leeds United take on Preston North End at Elland Road on Saturday whilst Sheffield United head to Plymouth Argyle, and Burnley host Norwich City on the Friday night.
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1 Leeds 41 24 13 4 80 28 52 85
2 Burnley 41 23 16 2 55 12 43 85
3 Sheffield Utd 41 26 7 8 56 31 25 83
Neil Warnock’s brutal reaction to Darren Williams blunder vs Leeds United
Speaking on Sky Sports during the game, former Leeds United manager Neil Warnock tore into Williams’ performance, branding his decision to disallow Tanaka’s goal as a disgrace.
Warnock said: “It should be bread and butter for him. The lino will be going home tonight telling his mates, ‘I’ve done them tonight’. That’s a disgrace that.”
If Williams has another stinker on Saturday then it could really pull his whole credibility into question and leave the EFL with an even bigger decision to make.
But Farke will at least be pleased he doesn’t have to deal with Williams again this weekend, and potentially not for the rest of the season given the uproar Williams has caused among Leeds United fans.
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