LEEDS UNITED are facing a disciplinary crisis that is threatening to wreck their championship challenge.
The Whites’ trio of Danny Mills, Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith are all in line for lengthy suspensions and their absences are certain to undermine their club’s Premiership title prospects, particularly with several crunch fixtures on the horizon.
Mills has already received a four-match ban for his needless sending off at Newcastle United on Saturday for petulantly kicking out at Craig Bellamy.
It was the combative full back’s second red card of the season after he was dismissed against Arsenal at the advent of the campaign, and he has a further suspension hanging over his head.
The England international has to appear before an FA disciplinary hearing to answer charges of verbal abuse aimed at the fourth official in that heated Highbury encounter.
Bowyer has a potential six-match ban looming as he also has to appear before the FA to answer two separate charges. The first is for an alleged elbowing of Gary McAllister in last season’s FA Cup clash with Liverpool.
His second charge is for abuse shown to referee Jeff Winter when he was sent off at Arsenal.
Firebrand striker Smith starts a five-match suspension next weekend and will miss key games against The Gunners, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Smith picked up a four-game ban for his sending off against Cardiff as it was his second red card of the campaign, and he incurred an additional one-game suspension for collecting his fifth yellow card of the season against The Magpies.
With a lengthy injury list as well, Leeds boss David O’Leary is rapidly running out of options to rotate his line-up and admits he is concerned they could hamper the club’s chances of lifting the Premiership trophy.
However, O’Leary refuted suggestions that Leeds are on the brink of emulating the Elland Road side of 30 years ago, when they were labelled the most hated, and dirtiest, team in the land.
He said: “We can’t afford the suspensions. We can talk and talk about it and we’ve had a ref (Steve Lodge) in since the start of the season.
“But players when they go out on the pitch have got to conduct themselves right. They have got to control and look after themselves.
“Of course I am worried about the suspension problem. I need the likes of Danny Mills playing, not back at the training ground.
“I am not worried about our reputation. We are a competitive and good footballing side, but the players have got to show more responsibility.”
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