Leeds United’s 1-0 narrow loss at Reading on Saturday was more reknowned for the furore over the Liam Cooper ‘stamp’ incident than Yann Kermorgant’s goal that sealed the Royals’ win.
Cooper, striding over a prone Reece Oxford, was seen by the SKy Sports cameras to ‘stamp down’ on the side of the on-loan West Ham player’s head, an incident that brought swift disapproval on Twitter and an eventual FA charge earlier today.
As Reading fans began to seethe at what they saw as an intentional stamp from the Leeds United defender, in for injured terrace favourite Pontus Jansson, Whites fans began to point the finger at Reading’s Tyler Blackett for an elbow/forearm smash delivered on Leeds United’s 24-goal top-scorer Chris Wood.
However, despite the contact being pretty clear, BBC Radio Leeds presenter and Leeds United commentator Adam Pope has said on his Twitter feed that Blackett will receive neither charge nor punishment from the FA.
I understand that no further action to be taken against Reading's Tyler Blackett for alleged elbow on Chris Wood. #lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) April 4, 2017
I understand a panel of 3 elite referees could not unanimously decide if Blackett had committed a red card offence. #lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) April 4, 2017
This decision, it can be safely said, has met with catcalls from Leeds United fans, especially when video evidence, such as below, appears to show a definite intent and contact.
https://twitter.com/WALM0T33/status/849222730385940480
The video (in Walmot33’s tweet – above) shows definite movement of Blackett’s elbow/forearm towards Wood’s head and there is definite contact.
Still, the “panel of 3 élite referees” didn’t deem it worthy of a red card so Blackett avoids any form of punishment and therefore will be available for the rest of Reading’s run-in to the season’s end.
https://twitter.com/WALM0T33/status/849244823064367108
