Good timing, limited impact: Why Daniel Farke accepting ban makes sense for Leeds United

Eight days earlier he was passionately defending himself against a "clear and obvious" error, but now he has accepted a charge of entering the field of play at full time to confront the match official/s. The circumstances around the charge have worked in Leeds' favour.

Farke approached referee Peter Bankes following Leeds' 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City.

He was not allowed to speak to the media after the game but the next time he did, ahead of Tuesday's league visit of Sunderland, he protested his innocence, claiming Bankes had made a "clear and obvious error" in showing him a red card, which he said was the first of his managerial career.

He ran on after the full-time whistle to remonstrate with Bankes, who added only 16 seconds to the minimum of six added to the game, despite booking City's Rayan Ait-Nouri for time-wasting in that period. Farke was also unhappy at a number of decisions he felt went against his side in a match they lost 1-0.

Bankes, who was stood in the centre-circle, showed the red card long before Farke could reach him.

But now Farke has decided to accept a one-match ban and an £8,000 fine.

It means he will be on the touchline for next week's trip to Crystal Palace, which will be an important game for the Whites as they look to secure their place in next season's top-flight. A chance to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals is not to be sniffed at for a club who have not done it since 2003 but a game at home to bottom-half Championship opposition does not have the same significance.

The charge will not prevent Farke from speaking to his players before Sunday's game, or at full-time.

It is only the second touchline ban of Farke's career, both in the last 13 months. He missed last season's Championship match at Sheffield United after his third caution of the season, issued after members of the Leeds bench spilled onto the pitch celebrating a winning goal against Sunderland. With the referee unable to identify the culprits, the card was issued to the manager, as per the rules.

Asked by The Yorkshire Post last week if there was anything he had learnt from how he dealt with his previous touchline ban, Farke replied: "No, because I don't want to get used to this or I could retire and watch every game from the stands.

"I saw that sometimes even without me we ae able to win football games so sometimes it humbles you a little bit that you're not that important but I was around before the game and at half-time to do the talk.

"Let's be honest, on the sideline in a full packed stadium, your impact as a manager is not that big anyhow.

"You do the substitutions and give a few words during the game but I think more important is what you do at half-time and how you prepare before a game, the teamtalk to prepare a game for different scenarios because during a game I can't say to Joe Rodon, 'You have to play this pass from A to B'. When I try to shout over to the other side, he doesn't even hear me.

"The impact of managers can be over-interpreted."

Managers would ordinarily be banned for the next game, but the Football Association did not serve Farke with the charge until late in the day of the game against Sunderland. He could have accepted immediately, but it made more sense to take some of the time allowed by the process so he could play a full part in the game at home to the Black Cats, which Leeds also lost 1-0.

Had he lost his appeal, the ban could potentially have been extended. Leeds' next game after Palace is at home to Brentford.