FA delay decision over Huddersfield Town and Leeds United's touchline fracas

Tempers flare between Huddersfield Town and Leeds United players and staff at the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday (Picture: Nigel French/PA Wire).

Head coaches David Wagner and Garry Monk clashed on the touchline to spark a melee that involved several members of both teams and the respective coaching staffs.

The governing body spent Monday reviewing footage of the bust-up and analysing referee Simon Hooper’s report.

A decision on whether to charge either Wagner, Monk or either club or failing to control their players/staff has to be made by “close of business on Tuesday”, according to an FA spokesman.

Michael Hefele’s 89th-minute winner – and Wagner’s decision to join his players in celebrating on the pitch – sparked the unsavoury scenes.

Monk, who afterwards accused his German counterpart of lacking “humility, respect and class”, barged into Wagner as he walked back along the touchline towards the home technical area. This sparked a pushing match between the two men that soon saw several others become embroiled.

Once calm had been restored, Wagner and Monk were sent to the stands, while Hooper booked Pontus Jansson, Elias Kachunga and Liam Bridcutt.

Wagner apologised for running onto the pitch after Hefele’s late winner, but he felt the nudge on him by Monk had been the catalyst for the fracas.

“I celebrated with my players in the corner and then wanted to jump back into my technical area and Garry tried to nudge me,” the Town chief said.

“I understand that in British sporting culture, it seems to be disrespectful if I celebrate with my players and this is different in Germany, to be fair.

“But this is a different culture and I have to accept it.”

Monk countered: “My technical area is my technical area, whether I am home or away.”

Both men have already been on the radar of the FA disciplinary chiefs this season, Monk having served a one-game ban following his dismissal towards the end of September’s 1-0 defeat at Bristol City.

Wagner, meanwhile, was sent from the touchline after celebrating in a similar fashion to Sunday after another dramatic late winner, against Derby County.

He joined the celebrating Terriers players after Kachunga had netted the only goal of the game in stoppage-time, but avoided further disciplinary action from the FA.