[Mighty T.A.L.]

FA defend Leeds decision

The Football Association have defended their decision not to punish Leeds for the pitch invasion which marred the Championship match against Ipswich at the end of last season.

Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks claimed the FA had come up with a "weak response" after the final moments of the match on 29th April were delayed by the invasion.

The FA were satisfied that the club and the police had dealt with a number of the trouble-makers involved and insisted punishing the club was "not beneficial".

An FA spokesman said: "Clubs and police have their own mechanisms for ensuring law and order is upheld and they have the capacity to use stadium banning orders.

"We recognised that it was important for the club and police to liaise together to identify those people who have done something wrong and take relevant action.

"The FA are satisfied that the club and local police have taken appropriate action before and after the incident and we feel that imposing a fine would not be beneficial for any party."

Tractor Boys chairman Sheepshanks insists further action should be taken by the FA.

"I have had some pretty choice words to say to the FA about this. I personally feel it is a weak response," Sheepshanks told the East Anglian Daily Times.

"I was at Elland Road and was witness to the repeated intimidation and provocation.

"I'm quite surprised the FA have concluded their investigations and that they believe that everything has been reasonably done to avoid what was known to be a volatile situation.

"I have complained to the FA about this decision although I don't see any chance of our case being reopened."

Source: Skysports