Ampadu Exclusive: Leeds star accused of cheating after Sheffield Weds incident
Keith Hackett has accused Ethan Ampadu of “cheating” as Leeds beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 in the Championship on Sunday.
Daniel Farke’s men breezed to victory in the all-Yorkshire derby at Elland Road on 19 January with Manor Solomon, Largie Ramazani and Ao Tanaka all getting on the scoresheet.
Victory against the Owls has put the Whites back on top in the league, overtaking Sheffield United to hold a one-point lead after 27 matches.
However, the game against Wednesday wasn’t without controversy.
In the second half, Owls star Shea Charles was penalised for charging into 24-year-old Ampadu.
While Charles did go in a bit strong on the Wales international, he didn’t make contact with his legs at all.
However, Ampadu went down clutching his shin as though he’d been kicked there.
Ampadu makes meal of incident in Leeds v Sheffield Wednesday
Former Premier League and FIFA referee Hackett – who is also a Sheffield Wednesday fan – believes Ampadu was faking an injury in the Yorkshire derby clash, something which the likes of Norman Hunter and Billie Bremner would be ashamed of.
“There is no doubt that the feigning of injury from robust challenges is a plague in the modern game,” Hackett told MOT Leeds News.
“In my era, these took place and were part of the game.
“You would get players holding out an arm and helping the opponent up off the ground.
“There was less cheating and more physicality years ago; Norman Hunter, Billy Bremner, Vinnie Jones come to mind.”
Ampadu has made 16 appearances in all competitions for Leeds this season.
He played all 90 minutes of the Yorkshire derby win over the Owls.
In other Leeds United news, Leeds have survived a late hijack by Birmingham to seal a new signing.
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