Two Leeds players criticised by FA for Casilla witness accounts, Nketiah role explained – report
Kiko Casilla had a line of Leeds United teammates supporting him at his recent FA hearing.
Ben White, Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper, Gaetano Berardi, Tyler Roberts and Adam Forshaw all testified on his behalf, and he had letters of support from Rafael Benitez and Kemar Roofe.
Casilla was found guilty of an aggravated breach of racism and banned for eight games.
After the hearing the FA released written reasons for its verdict and the 62-page report revealed all the details behind the case.
It outlined WhatsApp conversations between Jonathan Leko and Tyler Roberts, where the Charlton player detailed what Casilla had said to him.
Roberts asked Leko, “You sure fam?”. Leko responded “Yh fam”.
Roberts then posted what Casilla had told him he’d said which included an obscenity but was just asking what the Charlton player’s name was.
However, in a report on the Athletic, it was revealed that there was criticism from the FA towards both Roberts and Leeds centre-back Ben White… “both of whom were described by the panel as unimpressive witnesses”.
There were no more details released but no other Leeds players were criticised.
There was also a question mark over the role of Eddie Nketiah, who was a teammate of Casilla’s at the time, but was listed as an FA witness.
Some Leeds fans thought that meant he was testifying against Casilla.
That wasn’t the case, as Phil Hay pointed out on Twitter.
He said, “His evidence didn’t support the FA’s case. It rather supported Casilla’s (or neither side, given that he wasn’t 100% clear what was said).”
Time to focus on the game
Given that the case has been hanging over the club and the players for five months now, it’s good to get it settled, even if it doesn’t leave the club or Casilla looking great.
It’s time now to draw a line under it. Casilla is banned, Leeds aren’t appealing, and Illan Meslier will be the man tasked with keeping the goals out and helping Leeds get promoted.
Leeds are on a good run of form on the pitch and can take another big step towards the Premier League with a win on Saturday against Huddersfield.
Onwards.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Another tactic to stop Leeds getting promoted’ – Many fans react to Graham Smyth EFL update