‘Lack of respect’ – Jesse Marsch on VAR, refereeing and Leeds United defending in Brentford rout - YEP 3/9/22

Jesse Marsch bemoaned what he felt was a ‘lack of respect’ from the officials in Leeds United’s 5-2 beating at Brentford.

By Graham Smyth

Marsch was given his marching orders in the second half for his protests when Crysencio Summerville went down in the Brentford penalty area and referee Robert Jones waved play on. The Leeds head coach ran down the touchline to remonstrate with the assistant referee and gesticulated wildly for Jones to go to his monitor.

Earlier in the game VAR had encouraged Jones to take another look at Luis Sinisterra’s challenge on Ivan Toney, before a penalty was awarded and Toney stroked it home for a 1-0 lead.

The video official also intervened late on to rule out an offside decision when Bryan Mbeumo had put Brentford 4-2 ahead.

How Leeds found themselves on the end of the eventual 5-2 scoreline was more to do with their own work, however, than Jones and his officiating team, with Marsch’s centre-back Diego Llorente in particular having a horrible afternoon.

“I think first of all some set-piece situations in the first half, that we talked about and tried to train, we know it's one of their strengths here,” said Marsch.

"I thought before 1-0 the game was pretty much in control and then I don't think it's a penalty. We pushed to get it back at 3-2 and the game fell apart a little bit. We have to get better defensively. We've given up five in one game, but given up five in five and been relatively stable. This game was a little wild.

Jesse Marsch sent off and a defensive horror show. Report as Leeds United are blitzed 5-2 at Brentford. #lufc https://t.co/9GvY1LalSj

— Leeds United News (@LeedsUnitedYEP) September 3, 2022

“We're never going to point fingers. If anyone wants to point fingers it should be at the manager. We've been doing a really good job, we've had a lot of decent games, picked up some points, we know we'll have a lot more to do and we'll have to adjust in matches. Sometimes we put our centre-backs in difficult positions, we counterpress and go forward but then need to put out some fires.”

Marsch did take issue with some of the decisions made by the officials, specifically the awarding of a penalty to Brentford after a lengthy VAR intervention and the lack of the same scrutiny when Summerville was challenged.

The Whites head coach says he needs to speak to someone involved in Premier League officiating to understand some of the decisions going against his team.

“I was calm, even when Brentford was given the penalty, even though normally when the phrasing is clear and obvious and it takes that long to watch and look at it, it’s not clear and obvious,” he said.

"I don't believe it's a penalty, if it is then it's incredibly soft. I was told in our management meeting the threshold for pens was going to go up. Summerville, it's more of an egregious foul. I’m clearly dissatisfied. I've got to figure out how to have discussions with the league to understand.”

A week ago the American admitted he intentionally ‘escalated’ his touchline behaviour to try and redress what he felt was poor officiating and he’s aware that there could be a downside to that for him and Leeds.

"I'm witnessing that straight away,” he said.

"I need to have more conversations. I don't know who to talk to and what to say. I know our club has reached out a couple of times, but maybe it's time for me to have some discussions to figure out why some things are happening. On matchday I've been a bit frustrated, specifically the last three matches.

"I was speaking with the fourth official, trying to be as respectful as I could and then when you don't see the respect reciprocated, that lack of a VAR visit [for Summerville incident] in the end to me is a lack of respect.”