‘A red card for jogging’ – Leeds boss Farke slams d… — and more

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has slammed the decision from referee Peter Bankes to send him off after the final whistle of their defeat to Manchester City.

Farke was shown a straight red card after running over to Bankes to express his frustrations.

The Leeds boss says he was particularly unhappy with there not being enough added time at the end of the game, but denied he ever used strong language and claimed Bankes was ready to send him off before he had even said anything.

“Perhaps Peter (Bankes) wanted to be the first one to give me a red card in my career,” Farke said. “I think he could also have given me a yellow card because I also don’t think I’ve received a yellow card at Premier League level.

“I’m a very self-critical person. Whenever I do a mistake I hold my hands up and say listen, I have to apologise because in my job I also have to be a role model but really in this case, this scenario, I think it shouldn’t be a red card. It’s really my honest belief.

“There will always be disagreements about situations in the game. During the game there were several decisions we can speak about. A possible foul in the build up before their goal on Brenden Aaronson, we can speak about the situation when a foul was given against JJ (James Justin), although it was a straight leg against him and he’s a doubt for tomorrow because it was a foul on him.

“I think there was a situation between Cherki and Gruev which I judged differently. I think there was a handball incident in the second half where I think it should be at least checked to have a look at.

“I think six minutes added time for this game was not enough but the referee judged it in a different way and we also have to live with it.

“But what I think should not happen at this level is more or less what happened in added time. Six minutes added time shown by the fourth official and this means you play at least six minutes added time.

“During this added time there were three occasions that the referee had to encourage the Man City player to be quicker. Two times with a goal kick and one time also from a throw in.

“Then there comes an incident where he even gives a yellow card for time wasting.

“I went to Oliver Langford (fourth official), a top guy by the way and in this game was excellent and said ‘listen, don’t let him show a yellow card because this is our time, we want to equalise’. He says ‘no Daniel, don’t worry, we will add this to the time no problem’.

“He encouraged them three times already to play quicker. He (Bankes) walks over to give a yellow card for time-wasting, this alone lasts 20 to 30 seconds, how long do we want to play in the end? 12 minutes? He said ‘don’t worry, Peter will deal with it, it’s not your problem’.

“I can’t tell you if we play one or two minutes longer if we would really have equalised but you never know, there is at least a chance.

“If it happens in the 46th minute, perhaps he can forget about something, but not if 90 seconds before you give a yellow card for time-wasting, you speak to them several times, the fourth official tells me don’t worry we will add this then after six minutes and nine seconds, we have the ball, want to bring a long ball in, he blows the whistle and ends the game.

“At this level, for me, this is a clear mistake and shouldn’t happen.”

Farke continued by claiming he would “never jog again” on the pitch.

“I was obviously not happy, not with the decisions but especially with the six minutes added time and I wanted to run over because I wanted to be the first and not anyone else coming to speak about the handball or the Gruev and Cherki situation,” he explained.

“I just wanted a short, quiet moment with the referee. I was running over because I wanted to ask him why he didn’t add a few seconds, at least 30 seconds or one minute added time if he gives a yellow card for time-wasting.

“I jogged over and there was not one bad word, I didn’t abuse him at all, I didn’t swear at him at all, I didn’t use one word of bad language. There was no flying arms or wild gestures. I was just jogging over to ask him for what do you give the yellow card over there if you don’t add any seconds.

“I don’t even finish for what because as soon as I arrived, he had the red card in his hands and sorry, didn’t speak to me, didn’t even watch me and just shows me a red card.

“I can’t say that I was unbelievably happy that he didn’t add any seconds but I just wanted to ask the question.

“After he showed the red card, also in this manner to more like embarrass me by showing the red card, to show the whole world, listen this guy is not worth to talk to. This guy is not even worth to look at him, then I was angrier but even then I didn’t use one bad word, I didn’t accuse him, not at all.

“You can also see it on the footage with the assistant. If I would have done something disrespectful I think he would have perhaps defended his mate, the referee, and they were also shocked a red card was shown and tried to speak to me more or less.

“This is not how we should work with each other. Listen, I have so much respect for all the referees, otherwise I would never last in this business for nearly 20 years without being shown a red card.

“I learned my lesson. I will never, ever jog again on the pitch although I don’t think you could be a shown a red card for jogging. I don’t think it’s something where you should be shown a red card.

“I have to admit, I’m not like a butterfly. I don’t look unbelievably cute and sweet when I jog. I have to admit this. The lesson I learned is I will never, ever jog on the pitch again but I don’t think a red card should be shown.

“With Peter, I respect him so much as a top, experienced referee. He was in charge of so many top games at this level. I don’t think he did something on purpose, I think he just misjudged or misinterpreted something.

“But in the end, I don’t take me too serious. I’m not more important than the players or the game. But I think it should be the same the other way round.

“If we meet each other in a few weeks and there’s something where we disagree and have a different opinion, it should be possible to ask at least a question or to speak about this. And even though we disagreed, to have a handshake.

“I will never, ever jog again. I will try to be as slow as I was as a player from now on on the pitch.”

Asled if he expects to be in the dugout against Sunderland, Farke replied: “If you ask me how I judge this situation, I don’t think this red card can stand.”

Mike and Dan are relaxed and excited as the Islanders win three in a row and put themselves in good position for both the playoffs and the NHL Trade Deadline.

We were worried that going into two places they never win in – Montreal and Columbus – and coming back to face the rabid Panthers at home could be a significant hill for the Islanders to climb immediately after the Olympic break. But behind the Disney Dads, Anders Lee and J-G Pageau, and the literally unbelievable Matthew Schaefer, they won all three in uncharacteristically exciting fashion and have us thinking that something special is going on here. Going down 0-2 in each of them isn’t ideal, but coming back to get points and create separation between them and the teams chasing them means everything right now as teams enter their final 24 game stretch.

The wins also mean that the games this week in California against the Ducks, Kings and Sharks have just a little less weight on them. If they can keep the streak going, they have a real chance to lock things up long before the season’s final week, which is huge departure from the last few seasons.

Later, we look ahead to Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline and how the Islanders have positioned themselves to do something big. Adding around the edges might be okay in most seasons, but if they can find some bigger fish to relieve the pressure on their current leaders, they might really scare the rest of the field.

Finally, we pay our respects to two great NHL voices that we have lost recently.

REFERENCES

• The Islanders already made a huge trade (for Bridgeport). Goodbye, Julien Gauthier.
• RIP Jim Robson, who’s call of Bob Nystrom’s goal in 1980 will remain in Islanders and NHL lore forever.
• RIP Boomer Gordon, a great radio host, good person and a friend who will be missed.
• This picture really is incredible:
  

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Uefa has fined Tottenham Hotspur and given them a suspended ban from selling away tickets after three supporters made Nazi salutes towards Eintracht Frankfurt fans.

The incident occurred during their Champions League fixture - which Spurs won 2-0 - at the German club's Deutsche Bank Park on 28 January.

Uefa said it issued the ban for "the racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters" and it was "suspended for a probationary period of one year".

Tottenham were fined £26,000 (30,000 euros) by European football's governing body in addition to £1,966 (2,250 euros) for objects thrown by their supporters.

Spurs said the "conduct of a small number of fans" was "utterly abhorrent" and have issued them with banning orders.

"We can confirm that all three individuals found to be making Nazi salutes towards Eintracht Frankfurt fans have been identified and have received indefinite bans under the club's sanctions and banning policy," said Spurs.

"The club stands firmly against all forms of discrimination and has therefore taken the strongest possible action. The disgusting behaviour of a minority of so-called fans on the night is in no way reflective of the values of our club and its supporters."

Last week, Real Madrid launched an investigation after a supporter allegedly performed a Nazi salute before the club's Champions League win against Benfica.

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