'You are messing with a lot of peoples' families, please be fair' - FA reveal written reasons for Leeds United suspensions

The FA have published their written reasons for a one-game suspension and a £2,000 fine, handed out after Orta confronted the match officials in the tunnel during half-time at Elland Road on 28th January.

Match referee England, whose performance alongside his assistants prompted Leeds to request a review of 17 decisions, stated in his report that Orta had to be restrained by stewards at the interval.

His report said: "At half time, after we left the field of play and walking up the tunnel …. Victor Orta had to be physically restrained by tunnel stewards as he was attempting to get to me and my colleagues. Along with this he was heard shouting "You love messing with people's lives and families" which again was aimed at us."

According to the FA England then corrected his report slightly to say Orta's words were actually: "You're messing with peoples' lives and families."

His report was 'substantially confirmed' by his assistants and the fourth official.

Orta, who has no record of similar offences and apologised in a letter for any upset caused, said he had been feeling pressure during a poor run of form for the Whites.

The FA report said: "[Orta] admits the charge but alleges he felt in the first half of the match decisions had gone against Leeds United FC and his words were "You are messing with a lot of peoples' families, please be fair". He admits to feeling under pressure due to his team's form."

A three-man disciplinary panel decided that England's evidence was 'on the balance of probabilities' preferred, but noted that Orta had admitted the charge at the first opportunity and Leeds United had confirmed he would face internal disciplinary proceedings.

A separate charge against the club's head of communications James Mooney also resulted in a one-game ban and a fine, of £700.

Referee England alleged that Mooney, who had no previous record of any offence, attempted to show the officials his phone, while disputing a decisions.

"Just before the second half as we were walking up the tunnel about to enter the field of play ….. James Mooney tried to show me his phone to show us that in his opinion the ball was out of play before I awarded a penalty to Millwall in the 22nd minute of the game," said England.

"He was aggressive in his manner so we politely reminded him we cannot see any footage and then left him to enter the field of play."

Mooney, who denied showing aggression to the officials, accepted the charge and admitted he had acted 'foolishly and unprofessionally' and, like Orta, apologised for his actions.

Leeds United confirmed to the FA that Mooney was 'aware of his behaviour is not acceptable and is subject to internal sanction.'

United chief executive Angus Kinnear wrote in his programme notes for Saturday's game against Bristol City that the club were 'bemused' by the FA action against Orta and Mooney

"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," he said.

"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."