Leeds United fans took to Twitter to rage at Eunan O’Kane after he was sent off for an apparent headbutt in the 37th minute of their 1-0 Championship defeat to Ipswich Town on Saturday.
The Republic of Ireland international lined up in central midfield alongside Kalvin Phillips as Thomas Christiansen rang the changes after the FA Cup shock at Newport County six days earlier.
Leeds had enjoyed the better of the first half up to the point when O’Kane, 27, was given his marching orders following an off-the-ball altercation with Ipswich left-back Jonas Knudsen.
It was the latest in a string of disciplinary issues for Leeds under manager Thomas Christiansen this season, after Gateano Berardi was banned for three games for a headbutt on Bristol City’s Matty Taylor and Samu Saiz was suspended for six games for spitting at an opponent against Newport.
Ironically, after the Saiz ban was announced it was O’Kane who said that the players were disappointed with the attacker and that he would learn a lesson from his ban.
The spotlight has now turned on former Bournemouth player O’Kane, who is one of the senior figures in the dressing room.
Leeds fans on Twitter were deeply frustrated by his red card against Ipswich, with one slamming him as “the biggest myth going”.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
https://twitter.com/RoofeFinesse/status/952203946701066240
https://twitter.com/RoofeFinesse/status/952205588011933696
Not a hope of finishing top 6 playing like this. That was even before O'Kane saw red. Awful to watch #lufc
— Michael Farrell (@MickFarrell84) January 13, 2018
#LUFC Severe lack of discipline at Leeds, we're on top and we've shot ourselves in the foot, really annoyed with O'Kane TC needs to sort this ASAP… Not happy grrr #MOT
— Alex Winton (@Alex_Winton1) January 13, 2018
Feel sorry for TC. Can't legislate for lack of discipline from senior players. O'Kane has let his teammates down #lufc
— TikiTaka Leeds (@Tiki_TakaLeeds) January 13, 2018
But o'kane obviously hasn't learnt anything from the incident, ffs #lufc https://t.co/DcOozk8lr2
— Lee Hutchinson (@leemhutchinson) January 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/LordSnooty68/status/952204756361138178
https://twitter.com/joebilbey/status/952204605387100162