Graham Smyth, chief football writer at the Yorkshire Evening Post has shared some footage of an incident that took place at Elland Road just over a year ago via his Twitter account. Leeds United and Aston Villa played out a 1-1 draw in 2019 with both goals being scored in controversial fashion (as per BBC Sport).
Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia went down with an apparent injury and Marcelo Bielsa’s side continued play and eventually scored via Mateusz Klich. The visitors were left incensed and there were unsavoury scenes both on and off of the field when the players and members of staff were involved in angry exchanges.
As a result, Bielsa told his players to let their opponents walk the ball into the back of the net to level things and whilst most adhered to the Argentinian’s instructions, Pontus Jansson was visibly angry and even made an attempt to prevent the goal.
A year on, here is how some of the Elland Road faithful have responded to the footage.
Still angers me the biased anti-Leeds punditry. Played to the whistle. Villa had done exactly the same thing to Stoke earlier in the season as the cross for their goal was where the Stoke LB was lying prone.
— 1919 – Bielsa ?? (@aclr1972) April 28, 2020
I still maintain – school boy error from Villa … one of the first rules you’re taught – is “play to the whistle”. No whistle, carry on.
— Tony D. (@tonypdickinson) April 28, 2020
@HazzaDews4 @louis_harkness1 @SamSharman10 this is this is THIS is controversial
— Jayden (@JaydenHills2) April 28, 2020
The anti-Leeds bias from @SkySports commentators still grinds my gears. If it had been a top 6 prem club they’d have been agreeing with the ref.
Tyrone Mings grew in my eyes as a pro that day, a credit to his club.— TW1TCH (@OfficialTW1TCH) April 28, 2020
@The_Tom_Weets still angers me watching this
— James Weets (@James_Weets) April 28, 2020
Still can’t get over Don Goodman’s reaction to this
— Peel (@JPeel05) April 28, 2020
News Flash: John Terry lacks class.
— Dom Gradwell (@dom_gradwell) April 28, 2020
Love how Klich doesn’t even celebrate as he knows he’s in for a scrap ?
— Alex Barton ?? (@Barton0802) April 28, 2020
Were Leeds United right to allow Aston Villa to score?
Yes
No
? love to watch that back. My club ??
— Mark Baldwin (@balderslufc) April 28, 2020
Always play to the whistle……always
— JT1919?? (@JohnmjtJt1919) April 28, 2020
What do we think?
It’s clear from the above responses that many Leeds United fans felt the coverage of the incident made them out to be the villains that day. However, the reality of the situation is that even when he didn’t have to, Marcelo Bielsa showed his class by allowing Aston Villa to equalise and for that, the 64-year-old deserves much credit.