Confirmed: Leeds key man facing spell on the sidelines
By Matt Farr
Leeds manager Garry Monk is facing another spell on the sidelines after the FA confirmed it has charged him with misconduct.
English football’s governing body has declared that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that Monk had acted inappropriately during Leeds’ 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield on Saturday, and confirmed the charge on their official website on Tuesday.
Monk is alleged to have breached FA Rule E3 which relates to improper conduct, and he has until 6pm on 10 February to respond to the charge.
The decision is an emphatic, yet unsurprising one, as it could see Monk handed his second touchline-ban of the season, should he accept the charge.
The club is also likely to land a hefty fine of £500,000 should he plead guilty.
The Leeds boss clashed with Huddersfield manager David Wagner on the touchline, after Wagner had celebrated excessively to Michael Hefele’s last-minute winner.
After entering the technical area, Monk blocked off the Huddersfield boss, sparking a mass brawl between both sides.
The FA also revealed the two clubs had breached Rule E20(a), having ‘failed to ensure their players and/or officials conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour.’
The clash between the two promotion rivals was expected to produce fireworks on the field, but it was the brawl between the two chiefs that overshadowed proceedings, bringing the game to a close in an ugly manner.
Both Monk and Wagner were dismissed for their actions, while three players were shown yellow cards.
The FA confirmed that Wagner had also been charged.
In other Leeds news, Monk has issued an update on the fitness of Kemar Roofe, as he prepares to undergo a scan.
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