Leeds are going to be getting a call from the FA after the brawl at Elland Road in the game against Aston Villa, according to Phil Hay.
Hay, senior reporter from the Yorkshire Evening Post, said “FA fines inevitable after that brawl today.”
However, it could get even worse for Leeds, with Hay also adding, “Remains to be seen if Bamford is pulled up for simulation. Clearly wasn’t struck in the face.”
Bamford went down clutching his face in the fracas and Anwar El Ghazi was sent off after the referee consulted the linesman.
FA fines inevitable after that brawl today. Remains to be seen if Bamford is pulled up for simulation. Clearly wasn’t struck in the face. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) April 28, 2019
One fan pointed out that Bamford had been booked and asked whether this would preclude any further action.
However, Hay pointed out that it would depend on why he was booked – “Bamford threw someone to the ground earlier”.
depends on Attwell’s reasons for booking him. Bamford threw someone to the ground earlier.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) April 28, 2019
OPINION
This the reading of the situation as we have it. Leeds did nothing wrong playing on – it wasn’t a head injury and the referee didn’t blow his whistle. The Aston Villa reaction after the goal wasn’t good and several of their players should have been booked. Patrick Bamford shouldn’t have fallen to the ground clutching his head and Anwar El Ghazi shouldn’t have been sent off. However, Bamford wouldn’t have put himself in that situation if the Villa reaction hadn’t been so over-the-top. And Villa had the goal effectively wiped off by Marcelo Bielsa ordering his Leeds side to lay down from the kick off. So far so even. But, we can’t see Leeds getting away without a fine and if Bamford gets suspended for two games it could be a disaster. Kemar Roofe was out inured on Sunday and if he’s not back for the play-offs then Leeds could be without a striker for the first leg of the semi-final. That could have a huge impact on their promotion hopes after an incident which they didn’t really instigate. It was stupid from Bamford though and the yellow obviously wasn’t for simulation or the ref wouldn’t have sent El Ghazi off. That means a two-match ban is very much on the cards.