Leeds United 'bemused' by FA action says chief executive

The FA charges against Leeds United director of football Victor Orta and head of communications James Mooney have left the club 'bemused' says chief executive Angus Kinnear.
Victor Orta, front row centre, and James Mooney, front row left, were both charged by the FA (Pic: Tony Johnson)Victor Orta, front row centre, and James Mooney, front row left, were both charged by the FA (Pic: Tony Johnson)
Victor Orta, front row centre, and James Mooney, front row left, were both charged by the FA (Pic: Tony Johnson)

Separate incidents in the tunnel at half-time during the recent home game against Millwall, a game the Lions led 2-0 until Leeds stormed back to win 3-2, led to charges that both Orta and Mooney accepted.

Their breaches of FA Rule E3 led to one-game bans, which they served last Saturday when the Whites travelled to Nottingham Forest, and fines of £2,000 for Orta and £700 for Mooney.

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Kinnear addressed the issue in his programme notes for today's game against Bristol City and said the club were surprised that either incident led to FA action.

"On the disciplinary front, our trip to Nottingham was marked by the absence of Victor Orta and head of communications James Mooney, who had both been placed on the naughty step by the FA for having the audacity to constructively feedback to the referee at half-time," said Kinnear.

"As we chose not to contest the charges, it is important to put on the record that in neither incident was there any aggression, inappropriate language or an attempt to influence the referee. Accordingly we were (once again when it comes to the FA's disciplinary policy) bemused that either incident amounted to a charge.

"Especially when tunnels at half-time across the country regularly host much more colourful and fractious exchanges with match officials that are routinely ignored by the authorities."