James Mooney, the Head of Media and Communications at Leeds United has been given a one-match stadium ban by the Football Association.
Mooney, and the club’s Director of Football, Victor Orta, both received the same punishment in relation to separate incidents during half-time against Millwall last month.
The FA explained that they both committed breaches of Rule E3, which is related to events which take place within the Technical Area or Tunnel, and include abusive or insulting language.
Punishments can be up to £3000 and a 2 match ban for Championship clubs.
In this case, as both parties accepted the charges, Orta has been fined £2k and Mooney will pay £700, as well as receiving the one-match stadium ban.
At the time of the charge, a Leeds United club spokesperson said:
“[…] both incidents show a lack of judgement but we do not believe that either party has used inappropriate language or acted aggressively.”
Leeds were unhappy with some of the decisions made by the referee in the first half. That included a penalty awarded to Milwall, despite the ball appearing to go out of play.
Talking to media after the game, the Millwall manager, Gary Rowett said that the referee had come under a “little bit of pressure” at half-time, adding: “it wasn’t any of the coaching of playing staff, put it that way.”
