Leeds appeal against Pascal Struijk red card
The Leeds defender was sent off during Sunday's Premier League defeat to Liverpool
Leeds United have appealed against the red card shown to Pascal Struijk during Sunday's Premier League defeat to Liverpool.
His second-half challenge on Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott left the 18-year-old with a dislocated ankle, and after a VAR check, Struijk was sent off.
However, the Liverpool player took to Instagram in the days following the match to say it "wasn't Struijk's fault" and "neither was it a red card!".
In a post, he wrote: ""Wasn't his fault what so ever! Neither was it a red card just a freak accident but these things happen in football. I'll be back stronger 100%."
Leeds confirmed their appeal on Tuesday and said they would not be making a statement until the outcome is known.
Both sets of players and managers, and most pundits, agreed there had been no malice in Struijk's tackle.
Referee Craig Pawson did not initially caution Struijk, but sent him off after VAR intervention, while pundits debated after Liverpool's 3-0 win whether the incident had warranted a straight red card.
Elliott was discharged from Leeds General Infirmary on Sunday night, and is expected to undergo surgery in London later today.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: "I spoke to him the night after the game and he was in the best possible place at that moment".
"Today he is in London and will have surgery today. We all wait for news from that."
After Sunday's game, Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa insisted Struijk had made a genuine attempt to win the ball.
Bielsa said: "Pascal recovered the ball. The action to get the ball didn't have an infraction, but I have the feeling that the movement of the rest of his body after he recovered the ball made him hit Elliott."
"These types of recoveries of the ball are totally frequent. The difference here was Pascal's speed and power hit the opponent and that caused the injury."
"I regret dearly that such a young player who was playing at a high level was interrupted through this. I hope he is able to get back."
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