OPINION
Jack Grealish will face no retrospective action after an independent FA panel looked at the penalty incident from the first leg of the play-off semi-final between West Brom and Aston Villa – and Leeds fans have reacted on Twitter.
Jack Grealish will face no action from the FA following Saturday’s fixture. The penalty incident was referred to an independent panel, and it was deemed not to be an act of simulation #wba #avfc
— Matt Wilson (@mattianwilson) May 13, 2019
Grealish went down in the box and was awarded a penalty that Tammy Abraham scored to give Villa a 2-1 lead to take into the second leg at the Hawthorns.
However, West Brom were furious and claimed Grealish had dived. The incident was referred to an FA panel – where all three have to agree for action to be taken – and the ruling was that no action would be taken, leaving him free to play in the second leg on Wednesday.
Leeds had striker Patrick Bamford suspended for two games after successful deception of a match official in the Championship game with Aston Villa in the penultimate game of the season.
That might have been a more clear cut case, but Leeds fans are up in arms at what they see as double standards.
Grealish has previous when it comes to accusations of diving, but he’s one of those players who knows how to get penalties while (just) staying on the right side of the authorities.
West Brom are right to be seething at the news though after they lost Dwight Gayle for the second leg after a dubious sending off. Leeds fans aren’t happy either, with one eye on the play-off final.
Here are the best reactions from Leeds fans:
Quelle surprise!!! pic.twitter.com/zdsbH5OG3f
— Jo ? (@El_Loco_Jo) May 13, 2019
Not remotely surprised. Let’s hope the day comes when the @FA panel are, at some point in the future, charged with corruption
— Marc F ??? (@billywigwam13) May 13, 2019
He’s a professional diver, there always is contact, but never enough to bring him down, he’s looking for it and he’s good at it. He’s a cheat.
— LEEDSLEEDSLEEDS (@lufcTom1919) May 13, 2019
— Paul Brace ?? (@paulbrace66) May 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/LeeTate764/status/1127995489247305728
Hey, ya gotta laugh, don'tcha.
— Farke-Two-Three-One (@aclr1972) May 13, 2019
Unreal
— Deblob (@StuDeblob) May 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/davidkerr2821/status/1128033339414388737
Surprise, surprise ??
— Polly squires (@squires_polly) May 13, 2019
Of course he got away with it. Good player, but his antics week after week are everything that those that don’t like the game don’t like the game for!
— Ted Atkinson ?? (@tedatkinson) May 13, 2019
Worst thing about all this is he doesn't need to dive and throw himself around. He's supposed to be good, why piss it all up the wall by having cheating as his default mode. It's now at the point where he's known more for simulation than actual talent.
— Kelly's Eye??? (@RRHand808) May 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/Bollakzoid/status/1128008952330035201
https://twitter.com/LeefromLeeds/status/1128028669425983489