Leeds United might face yet another FA sanction after a missile was observed being thrown onto the pitch during their 3-0 win over Watford at Elland Road.
According to Leeds Live (September 23), referee Jeremy Simpson was forced to remove a missile that landed on the pitch 38 minutes into the game, with television replays indicating it was an e-cigarette gadget.
The FA fined the club £150,000 after sustained homophobic chants were heard from Leeds fans when Brighton played at Elland Road last season, and a £25,000 fine was issued in September 2022 after an incident in the League Cup against Barnsley led to a confrontation between players from both clubs.
In light of the incident against the Hornets on Saturday (23 September), Leeds may be forced to delve into their pockets once more and hand over more money to the FA.
While many clubs are fined by the FA for a variety of reasons, including excessive chanting from fans or the club’s incapacity to regulate its staff, Leeds has had its fair share of sanctions.
According to The Athletic (21 April), the FA received £2.6 million from Premier League and EFL clubs last season, the majority of which was for infractions of Rule E20, “which broadly outlines that it is a club’s responsibility to ensure players, staff, and supporters behave accordingly.”
The Whites are not the worst offenders among English clubs, with Everton paying £415,000 in fines last season, but the club will be eager to dramatically decrease their charges.
The incident at Elland Road against Watford was thankfully insignificant in terms of player and fan safety, but the club will be upset that a spectator at today’s game might deliver them another fine.
Time will tell, and while this is far from the worst sanctionable occurrence in the recent 12 months, such money could be better spent elsewhere, putting a tiny damper on the happy victory.
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