Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi’s red card overturned, Leeds’ Patrick Bamford charged
Written by News on 01/05/2019
Aston Villa forward Anwar El Ghazi’s red card for an altercation with Patrick Bamford has been overturned following an appeal, but the Leeds striker has been charged.
Bamford has been charged with “successful deception of a match official” after he fell to the floor clutching his face following minimal contact between himself and El Ghazi during Sunday’s game between the two sides at Elland Road.
He could now be banned for two matches, which would rule him out of Leeds’ final game of the regular season against Ipswich and the first leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final.
El Ghazi avoids a three-game ban after a claim of wrongful dismissal was upheld by an Independent Regulatory Commission and he is free to play in Villa’s last match of the season at home to Norwich on Saturday and their two-legged play-off semi-final.
Both Leeds and Aston Villa have been charged with “failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 72nd minute of the fixture”. They have been given until 6pm on Friday to respond.
The incident involving Bamford and El Ghazi came amid a bizarre exchange of play in the second half at Elland Road on Sunday when Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich scored after Aston Villa’s players asked the home side to put the ball out of play with Jonathan Kodjia down injured.
Both sets of players clashed after the ball hit the net – resulting in the FA charge – and El Ghazi was sent off in the aftermath of the scuffle.
Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa then instructed his players to allow Villa to equalise, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
The result confirmed Leeds’ spot in the play-offs – where they could face Aston Villa again – and Sheffield United’s promotion to the Premier League.
(c) Sky News 2019: Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi’s red card overturned, Leeds’ Patrick Bamford charged
