Two key incidents during Leeds United’s 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United have come under scrutiny, with the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel unanimously backing the match officials on both occasions.

The panel agreed that Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson correctly avoided a red card. The Swede was booked in the 19th minute after a foul on Andrey Santos. He was attempting to stay tight to his opponent and accidentally stepped on his Achilles while trying to change direction.

Reflecting on the challenge recently, Gudmundsson told BBC Radio Leeds: “I’m aware of when it happened in the Manchester United game; it didn’t even feel like a yellow card.

“But then I saw it and I saw I wanted to step because I wanted to chase the movement and I wanted to set my foot down and I accidentally hit him. It was not on purpose, I really went in for the duel.”

Referee Darren England’s decision to show a yellow card was questioned by some pundits who believed Gudmundsson was fortunate to escape with only a booking. However, the KMI panel voted 5-0 that the on-field call and VAR’s decision not to recommend an on-field review were both correct.

In their findings, the panel wrote: “The on-field call of a yellow card was supported for a reckless challenge by Gudmundsson. Contact was made on Santos’ ankle as he looked to change direction, but with low force and below the threshold for serious foul play.”

Gudmundsson’s challenge was compared to that of Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, who was sent off 24 hours earlier for a similar-looking challenge on Hull City’s Robinio Vaz. The Premier League laid out its criteria for contact on the Achilles as an explanation.

Considerations for such tackles included full or direct contact, high force and speed, high intensity or degree of danger, and excessive force or endangering safety. The KMI panel deemed Gudmundsson’s challenge low force, while Sessegnon was adjudged to have made high, full and forceful contact on Vaz.

The KMI panel also reviewed second-half claims for a Leeds penalty during the draw. Just after the hour mark, Whites captain Ethan Ampadu wanted a spot-kick after coming together with defender Harry Maguire.

Replays showed a stumble from Tarik Muharemovic appeared to affect both players, with the panel once again unanimously backing referee England and VAR. In their published findings, the panel wrote: “The referee’s call of no penalty was supported with the contact deemed to be below the threshold for a foul.”

The verdicts will come as little comfort to Leeds supporters who felt their side were denied a clear opportunity, but they confirm that the officials handled both incidents in accordance with the laws of the game. The draw remains a point gained against a rival, though the debate over the decisions is likely to continue among fans and pundits alike.