Leeds duo ‘to escape FA punishment’ after explosive Sunderland fan incident
Ao Tanaka and Willy Gnonto look set to escape FA punishment after an incident at the end of Leeds’ win over Sunderland on Monday.
Leeds came from a goal down to beat Sunderland 2-1 at Elland Road with Pascal Struijk scoring in the 78th and 95th minutes.
The victory saw the Whites retain their two-point lead at the top of the Championship table with fourth-placed Sunderland now 10 points off the pace.
Struijk’s last-gasp goal sparked crazy scenes inside Elland Road and Leeds’ celebrations continued well after the final whistle.
Tanaka and Gnonto celebrate in front of Sunderland fans, footage shows
Tanaka and Gnonto were filmed after the game jumping up and down celebrating the win in front of the away fans at Elland Road.
In a video clip shared by @LeedsMatchWorn on X, Sunderland fans can be seen exploding in the background with stewards having to hold one unhappy supporter back.
Former Football League official Keith Hackett doesn’t think Tanaka and Gnonto will face any punishment from the FA for their celebrations, claiming that they will get away with it because they were not close to the away fans.
“The distance from the touchline I believe will save these two players from a sanction,” Hackett told MOT Leeds News.
Leeds march on with Tanaka and Gnonto available
Farke’s men are on a roll at the top of the Championship.
They are unbeaten in the league since November and their 2-1 win over Sunderland on Monday was the first time they’ve conceded since the 3-3 draw with Hull on 4 January.
Tanaka has been sensational for Leeds in that run and ensuring he’s available is a huge thing for Farke.
| Match | Competition | Date |
| Sheffield United (A) | Championship | Mon 24 Feb |
| West Brom (H) | Championship | Sat 1 Mar |
| Portsmouth (A) | Championship | Sun 9 Mar |
Gnonto, on the other hand, has found his Leeds game-time become increasingly few and far between.
In the last eight league games, he’s been an unused substitute three times and hasn’t made a starting line-up in the Championship since December.
However, having him available is still a big plus for Farke because you never know when an injury or a suspension can occur.