Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa speaks for the first time about Kiko Casilla's racism ban

Marcelo Bielsa was asked about the Kiko Casilla ban before today's game (Pic: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

Leeds United's head coach declined to comment on the scale of the punishment handed out to his goalkeeper, but said the club must accept the situation.

It is, in his words, a 'pity' from a footballing point of view that the Spaniard is unavailable.

"The authorities took this decision, the club expressed its point of view, also Casilla's," he said, before the 12.30pm kick-off at Hull City.

"You knew that maybe it was a possibility. I prefer to say nothing about the measure the federation took. We have to accept the decision of the people who judge the situation.

"Of course we are sorry, it's a pity that Kiko is not with us. But we trust that we can resolve this situation."

Bielsa has handed Illan Meslier his Championship debut this afternoon and reiterated how highly he rates the French teenager.

"He is a keeper who has shown his characteristics against Arsenal [in the FA Cup]," said Bielsa.

"He is a goalkeeper without weak points and he has been with us from the beginning of the season."