Leeds United winger’s play-off suspension risk explained as Daniel Farke guards against Norwich City dark arts.
The EFL has confirmed to the YEP that players shown yellow cards in each leg of this season’s Championship play-off semi-final legs will not be suspended for the final at Wembley Stadium, should their team qualify.
Four players were booked during Leeds’ opening leg encounter with Norwich City at Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon, including the Whites’ Willy Gnonto.
The Italian was cautioned after sarcastically applauding match official Josh Smith, appearing to disagree with a decision the referee had made.
Gnonto’s cheap yellow ultimately led manager Daniel Farke to substitute the lively wide attacker during the second half, in order to guard against a second booking and subsequent suspension in the return leg at Elland Road this Thursday.
“He had some bruises and was also bleeding a little bit but we also have to keep in mind, especially the offensive players they need to be fresh to work their magic and we have important game on Thursday,” Farke said.
“And he was also booked, yellow card, there was one incident when you could sense, I think it was Sainz fouled him, he get a free kick but then pretended anyhow to get a hit and wanted to get a yellow-red card. You could sense, Norwich is a very, very experienced side, that they thought perhaps okay it’s a young 20-year-old Italian international, perhaps we can provoke him and I didn’t want to take this risk.
“Again no complaints about Norwich because if you’re an experienced side, you have to play this card in order to do this but didn’t want to take any risks also for Thursday because we also need Willy [Gnonto] in a good shape and for that I think he played quite well. But then after 70 minutes or so under this conditions in this hot temperature, I think it was the right choice to take him off,” Farked added.
