After scrutinising the video footage from Sunday’s hotly-contested derby at the John Smiths Stadium, the FA have issued their charges on the matter.
Both clubs have been charged by the FA after they “failed to ensure their players and/or officials conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour.”
In addition to this both managers, Leeds’ Garry Monk and Huddersfield’s David Wagner, have been charged with what amounts to improper conduct. All charges faced result from incidences arising from celebrations brought about by Michael Hefele’s 89th minute goal that saw home side Huddersfield Town win the hotly contested tie 2-1.
https://twitter.com/ArcadeOfHoney/status/828241592091869184
Garry Monk faces the one charge for his part in the events, the FA saying that he: “breached FA Rule E3 in that in or around the 89th minute, his behaviour amounted to improper conduct.” For his part in the disturbances, Huddersfield’s David Wagner is charged with two breaches of Rule E3, more specifically that: “his behaviour in entering the field of play amounted to improper conduct. It is further alleged his behaviour upon his return to the vicinity of the technical area amounted to improper conduct.”
Both sides have until Friday this week, 6 p.m. to respond to the charges, which BBC Radio Leeds say carry a fine of, ordinarily, £5,000. The individual charges relating to Monk and Wagner’s conduct are likely to bring about a fine and touchline ban for both – a situation discussed by Adam Pope (below).
If Monk & Warner admit charge & accept standard penalty then it's £2k fine & 1 match touchline ban. Wagner has 2 charges. #htafc #lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) February 7, 2017
Important to emphasise that both Wagner & Monk have been sanctioned already this season as it could make penalties non standard #htafc #lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) February 7, 2017
Another incident arising from the match, one of a more unsavoury manner, involved the unveiling of a Turkish flag in the Huddersfield end (below), the incident an attempt to goad Leeds fans into some kind of confrontation.
Huddersfield fans displaying a Turkish flag at Leeds fans during their game today.. #HTAFC #LUFC pic.twitter.com/8UVL9lgC76
— The Away Fans (@theawayfans) February 5, 2017
In a statement quoted on the ITV website, Huddersfield stated that action had been taken against the fan concerned. The club statement said: “Huddersfield Town can confirm that a 59-year-old man was ejected from the John Smith’s Stadium Revell Ward Stand at Sunday’s game against Leeds United. The individual has subsequently been banned from the John Smith’s Stadium indefinitely.”
Verdict of sorts
There can be little doubt in the minds of even the most ardent of Leeds United and Huddersfield fans that both managers and clubs deserve to face a charge In a case of tit-for-tat ‘you started it’, yes Garry Monk had stepped out and barged into David Wagner, but the German had run on to the pitch and basically rubbed Leeds fans nose into it as they went 2-1 down to what was the game’s eventual winner.
The manner of that display, of Wagner’s running half the length of the field to celebrate, obviously grated with Monk, his dropped shoulder testifying to that. What developed afterwards, starting with Wagner grappling Monk and ending with the push-me-shove-you between the players is something that, in all honesty, was mere ‘handbags’ than anything full-on. Still, whatever the view it rightly deserves the FA charge and subsequently meted out punishments.
As for the unfurling of the Turkish flag by the Huddersfield fan, it was what it appeared as – tasteless and disgusting. Thankfully it was rounded on before Huddersfield Town even had the chance to ban the fan indefinitely with fans, a large number of them Huddersfield Town fan, roundly criticising his actions across social media. However, some sections of Leeds fans on social media are questioning whether the 59-year-old man had been turned into a patsy for the younger fans around him.
