Alan Shearer has called Patrick Bamford a “disgrace” for his playacting in Leeds United’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
The game was marred by United scoring a controversial goal to take the lead after Matteusz Klich played on when the ball was expected to be put out of play because of a Villa injury.
Although Marcelo Bielsa insisted that his side allow their opponents to equalise straight from kick-off, that was not before a mass coming together between players and staff had happened.
As part of that Bamford went down holding his face after an incident with Villa man Anwar El Ghazi, despite it appearing as if no contact had actually been made.
And the United striker’s actions did little to impress Shearer.
Writing in a column for the Sun, he said: “Patrick Bamford was a disgrace at Elland Road yesterday.
“It all kicked off and hands and legs were flying around, yes.
“But he went down with no contact whatsoever. The Leeds striker should be banned for simulation and getting Anwar El Ghazi sent off.”
OPINION
Shearer is right to be annoyed by this one. What was Bamford thinking? Videos would suggest that there is clearly no contact between him and El Ghazi, and it would appear as if he has gone down purely with the intention of getting his opponent sent off. If that is the case, then he should be ashamed of himself. There is literally no need for that kind of behaviour in the game, and it is moments of mindlessness like this that give footballers a bad name. After having seen his side profit from a a morally dubious incident, you would assume that Bamford wouldn’t been too keen to draw any further attention to himself, but by being so unsporting, he has really marred his outing. At the end of the day, despite all of the unsavoury scenes, things were put right by Bielsa’s intervention, allowing Villa to equalise. The same cannot be said of Bamford’s cameo in the drama, and if there is any justice, El Ghazi’s dismissal should be rescinded. The worry beyond that will be if Bamford himself will face any kind of punishment.