Struijk’s red card proved to be a controversial decision after his lunge caused Liverpool starlet Elliott to dislocate his ankle and Leeds have reportedly appealed the decision to the FA
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Leeds United have reportedly submitted an appeal to the FA in hope of seeing Pascal Struijk’s red card rescinded after Harvey Elliott ‘s horror injury.
The Liverpool midfielder dislocated his ankle after the Dutchman lunged at him in the 58th minute of the teams’ Premier League clash at Elland Road on Sunday.
Elliott now many faces being sidelined until well into 2022, while Struijk was sent off by referee Craig Pawson in what proved to be a controversial decision.
The 18-year-old defend the Leeds centre-back as debate over the red card decision spread, saying: “[It] wasn’t his fault whatsoever,” he stressed in an Instagram post.
“Neither was it a red card just a freak accident but these things happen in football.”
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Did Struijk deserve to be sent off? Give us your verdict here.
Former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg agreed that the tackle was not worthy of a sending off and said on Monday that he believes Leeds have a good chance of winning the appeal.
“Remember the foul by Heung-min Son on Andre Gomes, for which the Tottenham Hotspur striker was sent off. Spurs appealed that red card and won,” Clattenburg wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
“Leeds United are likewise bound to lodge an appeal after Struijk was dismissed for his challenge on Elliott on Sunday.
“We haven’t seen all of the replays because of the severity of the injury to Elliott. From the angle we were shown in real time, however, the challenge from Struijk didn’t look a bad one.”
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp gave an updates on Elliott’s condition in his pre-match press conference ahead of AC Milan visiting Anfield on Wednesday for their Champions League group stage opener.
“I spoke to him after the game, he was in the best possible place,” Klopp said on Tuesday.
“He knew would out for a while. Today he is in London and will have the surgery today,” the German confirmed. “That is the next step and we wait for news on that.”
Elliott himself added on social media yesterday: “Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out or sent messages to me and my family, it means so much to us.
“Also a massive thanks to everyone inside Elland Road for the reception you gave me immediately after it happened.”
The teenage starlet continued: “I am now fully focused on my recovery and will give everything in my rehabilitation to be back out there as soon as I can. I know I have an incredible support network behind me at Liverpool and together we will get through this,” Elliott continued.
“To all of the Liverpool fans, your support means the world to me. I’m one of you and I can’t wait to be back faster, fitter and stronger to help the team in the future.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone!”