Willy Gnonto bans emerge after incident at Leeds United v Norwich – YEP

The clash at Carrow Road between Norwich City and Leeds United featured very few big chances from either side and much of the flashpoints were between referee Josh Smith and Willy Gnonto.

Willy Gnonto booked for sarcastically cheering at referee Josh Smith

Every week it seems Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville have to be cut in half by defenders to win a free kick.

Gnonto found that out in the sixth minute when he raced past Borja Sainz into the Norwich box before being brought down by the Spaniard as the Leeds man flicked the ball past him into the area – not only did he a penalty was awarded, but Smith inexplicably didn’t even think it was a foul.

The Italian was unsurprisingly left frustrated for the rest of the half, becoming the first player on the referee’s book as he nudged a Norwich defender in the back, a soft but fair free-kick that drew sarcastic applause from Leeds.

At half-time, Gnonto was still not happy with the referee’s inexplicable decision not to penalize Sainz for his flagrant foul:

Gnonto’s frustration grew in the second half as the same Norwich man tackled him to the ground and tumbled over him, accidentally planting a stud in the temple that required treatment – before he was later replaced.

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Gnonto will not face suspension issues for the final – YEP

The natural concern for Leeds fans with their key winger is a potential ban, knowing that some competitions have a yellow card ban in place for players who accumulate bookings following two-leg ties.

However, the YEP have passed on confirmation from the EFL that Gnonto will not be suspended for the play-off final if he is booked and Leeds get there on Thursday:

“The EFL has confirmed to the YEP that players who have received yellow cards in each leg of this season’s play-off semi-finals will not be suspended for the final at Wembley Stadium, should their team qualify.“

Three other players were cautioned by Smith at Carrow Road, all other Norwich players: Shane Duffy, Dimitris Giannoulis and Christian Fassnacht.

Referees need to protect Gnonto and Leeds better

All season it has been a tactic of the opposition to hack only our best two insides and nothing has been done by the referees to nip it in the bud.

Yellow cards come far too late in games, while fouls are not punished enough, and then one wonders why Gnonto reacts like this when he gives the mildest of fouls.

It’s amazing that neither Gnonto nor Summerville have been seriously injured by tackles this season, because every week someone goes for them in over-the-top fashion – Duffy’s tackle on Summerville was despicable.

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