Habib Diarra’s controversial second-half penalty gave Sunderland a 1-0 win at Leeds after the home side were not awarded a first-half spot-kick, a decision heavily criticised by Daniel Farke and former players.
The Black Cat's highly contentious victory keeps Leeds just six points above the drop zone, with most of their fellow relegation rivals having a game in hand.
Diarra's 70th-minute penalty winner, which took Sunderland to 40 points, was given after the VAR sent referee Stuart Attwell to the pitchside monitor for a handball by Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu when blocking Wilson Isidor's shot.
Attwell adjudged Ampadu to have "deliberately handled", but his decision was labelled "very harsh" by ex-Tottenham captain Michael Dawson on Soccer Special, adding, "I don't know what he is supposed to do with his arm."
Leeds' fury with the decision was compounded after VAR had earlier opted not to intervene when Leeds defender Pascal Struijk was wrestled to the floor by Sunderland's Luke O'Nien at a corner in the opening stages of the game.
Leeds boss Farke told TNT Sports: "It is not even a question. What was VAR doing in this scene? It can't be a clearer penalty. It is tough to understand how this is not checked and not re-watched.
"I am pretty sure that Stuart [Attwell], who is such a quality ref, so experienced and so calm, if he had the chance to watch this back, he would have said, 'All day long this is a penalty'."
Meanwhile, Dawson said: "I think Leeds should have had a penalty. Struijk had arms around his neck - I can't believe VAR didn't get involved."
Former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford was left baffled too by the decision.
He told TNT Sports: "I'm so bemused as to how the referee and VAR officials have not given a penalty. It's clear as day. Arms around the neck, he drags him down to the ground. How's that not a penalty? It's absolutely embarrassing."
Your Site News understands the incident involving Struijk and O'Nien was looked at by VAR, but it was deemed that a clear and obvious error had not taken place.
VAR also denied Leeds a second-half opener as Joe Rodon's 64th-minute header from Anton Stach's free-kick was disallowed for offside.
Diarra's winning penalty was Sunderland's only shot on target at Elland Road as they ended a nine-game winless away league run to move up to 11th.
But a frustrating evening for Leeds, which saw Jaka Bijol miss two late chances, means the Whites remain 15th and looking over their shoulders.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke speaking at his post-match press conference:
"We had nearly 20 shots. We had so many set-pieces, corner kicks, free-kicks. We didn't give one chance away.
"But somehow we lost this game. Our opponents are in the dressing room, probably struggling to explain how they won the game.
"We didn't show the quality to bring the ball into the net. This is football, a very important topic, and the reason why we lost.
"It's really frustrating and annoying to accept this result."
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris speaking at his post-match press conference when asked what was next after reaching 40 points:
"Forty-three. I think step by step, this target was really important.
"We don't know yet if it will be enough, because the season can be crazy and (relegation) still possible, because the race will be intense.
"But we still have nine games to play and if we keep the same mindset we can have other targets, (maybe) a bit higher, we'll see.
"I told the players, if we win here, it means a lot. This place, if you win here, it feels a lot about the character, the intensity and the togetherness of the squad - and we did it."
