Ethan Ampadu will be absent from Leeds United’s match with Manchester United on Sunday, in a major blow for Daniel Farke.
The Peacocks’ captain received his fifth yellow card of the season in the recent match against Liverpool, resulting in a one-match suspension. This means he’ll miss Sunday’s showdown at Elland Road, giving United an edge as they aim to ascend the Premier League standings.
The midfielder had been treading carefully since receiving his fourth yellow card during a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in November. However, the pivotal fifth booking came on New Year’s Day, during a goalless draw at Anfield.
Referee Chris Kavanagh decided to caution Ampadu midway through the second half, judging a handball on the edge of his own box as intentional. Replays indicate that the ball struck the sleeve of Ampadu’s shirt, which is usually not considered a foul, but Kavanagh saw it differently.
As a result of accumulating five bookings in the first 19 matches of the Premier League, Ampadu will now have to sit out the upcoming game against Man United. Speaking after the Liverpool match, Farke was quick to speak about the consequences of a fifth yellow for Ampadu.
He said, “I have to calm myself, struggling to accept this yellow card. When I see not a foul on [Anton] Stach and a foul against Ampadu, then we lose the ball, and to give Ethan a yellow card in this is hard to accept.
“[Jaka] Bijol also got a yellow in this scene; lots of adversity. Several decisions I’m struggling to accept today. We will miss him against [Manchester United].”
