Why Joe Rodon will not serve retrospective ban for violent conduct after Leeds United's late Sunderland win — YEP 18/2/25
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds United defender Joe Rodon will not be subject to
retrospective action for what some Black Cats supporters have deemed was a
headbutt on Wilson Isidor.
The Welsh defender and Sunderland's French forward clashed
shortly before half-time on Monday night after Rodon had pushed Luke O'Nien to
the floor inside Leeds' penalty area.
Sunderland defender O'Nien had ended up straddling Illan
Meslier as the goalkeeper successfully claimed a set-piece, which Rodon,
appeared to deem antagonistic and obstructive on O'Nien's part. Resultantly,
Leeds' centre-half shoved the Sunderland skipper off his goalkeeper, which
attracted the attention of Isidor.
Rodon and Sunderland's goalscorer on the night briefly
butted heads with the Wales international appearing to motion towards Isidor
with his forehead, although the striker did not go to ground and the pair were
promptly separated.
Referee Stuart Attwell deemed Isidor the aggressor in this
particular incident, by seeking out Rodon, and was shown a yellow card, while
Rodon got away unpunished, perhaps fortunately.
Sunderland supporters on social media have questioned what
they perceived to be an officiating double standard and whether Rodon may be
subject to retrospective action for the motioning of his head in Isidor's
direction.
This possibility was ruled out almost immediately by the
fact Attwell brandished a yellow card for Isidor, meaning he saw the incident
take place and took what he deemed appropriate action to reprimand those
involved. Retrospective punishment is not applicable in cases where the referee
has already made a decision on the pitch, meaning Rodon will continue to be
available to Leeds.
Junior Firpo fell foul of the rulebook earlier this season
for a similar incident away at Millwall, moving his forehead towards an
opponent following an unsuccessful Leeds set-play during stoppage time at the
end of the second half.
"The defender's behaviour around the 95th minute wasn't
seen by the match officials, but was caught on video, and the FA alleged that
it constitutes violent conduct," said a statement.
In this instance, Firpo's infraction was not seen by the
officials but reported at full-time by the Millwall players and subsequently
included in the referee's match report, therefore opening the door for
retrospective action to be taken. The Dominican Republic full-back was
subsequently found guilty of violent conduct and banned for three matches.
According to the Football Association, retrospective action
can be taken in the following situations:
"Firstly, for acts of violent conduct that occur
secondarily to a challenge for the ball; and secondly, in off-the-ball
incidents where one or more match official did see the players coming together,
but the match officials’ view was such that none of them had the opportunity to
make a decision on an act of misconduct that took place within that coming
together."
It is unlikely that the movement of Rodon's head even meets
the threshold for violent conduct but even so, given Attwell's proximity to
where the incident took place, the match official had a clear view of the
altercation and additionally made a decision by cautioning Isidor.