Manchester United were frustrated that Leeds United star Gabriel Gudmundsson stayed on the pitch during their Premier League clash earlier this month

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has returned a unanimous verdict in deciding that Leeds United star Gabriel Gudmundsson was correctly not shown a red card against Manchester United. Gudmundsson fouled Andrey Santos during United's 1-1 draw against their rivals.

The Sweden international picked up a yellow card when he caught Santos on the calf with his studs. Many believed that the challenge warranted a red card that could have changed the game.

The KMI panel believe that referee Darren England got the on-field decision correct and that VAR was correct not to intervene to upgrade the card. The panel is made up of five members: three former players or coaches, one representative from the Premier League, and one from Pro Ref, and all of them voted in favour of how things transpired on the day.

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The panel's assessment deemed the challenge reckless rather than anything more severe. "The on-field call of a yellow card was supported for a reckless challenge by Gudmundsson," the reasoning read.

"Contact was made on Santos' ankle as he looked to change direction, but with low force and below the threshold for serious foul play.”

In the aftermath of the draw against Leeds, it had been suggested that Gudmundsson had been fortunate to avoid a red card. Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher could only put the decision to caution the defender instead down to the speed of his challenge.

“I can only try and second-guess the referee; it is not a nice tackle, but I can only assume that because he was so close, he has not got the speed and intensity,” Gallagher told Ref Watch.

“It is up there on his Achilles and if you make that challenge, you are going to run the risk of a red card all the time.”

Fellow former official Darren Cann agreed that the intensity of the tackle prevented Gudmundsson from being sent off. Cann said: "Gabriel Gudmundsson made a very risky challenge on Andrey Santos.

“His tackle had similarities with Ryan Sessegnon's red card for Fulham on Saturday, with both players making contact with their studs on the back of the calf/Achilles of their opponents.

"Gudmundsson could also have easily seen red instead of the yellow card he received. I think what saved him was that there was a little less intensity in his challenge, however he could've had no complaints had a red card been shown."