It is safe to say it has been a bad weekend for the Whites, defeat in the third round of the FA Cup to League Two Newport County was embarrassing enough but now it has been revealed that Leeds forward Samu Saiz has been slapped with a six-game ban for spitting at County midfielder Robbie Willmott during the defeat.
Spaniard Saiz was duly sent off by referee Mike Dean for his actions and the 26-year former Real Madrid B player accepted his punishment and apologised after the game saying: –
“I give my word to all those connected to Leeds United that I will learn from this and never repeat it,”
It is not the first time that Saiz has been in trouble for spitting after being accused of the same offence by former Port Vale boss Micky Adams in his debut in a League Cup in which he smashed in a sumptuous hat-trick.
However, Samu was cleared of any wrongdoing at the time and continued to shine for the Whites after impressing in his opening six months of his Elland Road career.
Nine goals in twenty-six appearances have followed for Saiz since agreeing a four-year deal in the summer and that is often from the bench.
The Spaniard has been a hit and his absence will be a major blow as Leeds push on and look to build on their current sixth place in the table.
The ban means Samu will miss the away trip to Ipswich, back to back home games against Millwall and Cardiff, the Yorkshire Derby against Sheffield United before Bristol City at home and Derby County away.
That run of games makes Saiz unavailable until the Brentford game on Saturday the 24th February.
Despite the suspension, Saiz’s victim Robbie Willmott was in fine spirits and brushed the incident off even saying the Spaniard is one of his favourite players after telling the Welsh media: –
“There is absolutely no hard feelings from me, he’s actually one of my favourite players in the Championship, I enjoy watching him,”
High praise indeed for a man who spat in your face, but it was Willmott who had the last laugh after his League Two warriors dumped Leeds out of the cup thanks to a Shaughnessy own goal and late McCoulsky header cancelling out Beradi’s ninth minute opener.