Wycombe Wanderers player Luke Leahy gets booked for drying the ball on a Bradford City steward’s jacket prior to taking a throw-in.
It came in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy semi-final on Wednesday night of which his team won 1-0 to secure a place in the final.
Matt Butcher’s goal in added time during the second half secured the win for the South Coast side, earning them a spot in Wembley on the 7th of April.
However, an unexpected incident came 85 minutes into the game as Leahy prepared to take a throw-in, but used a steward’s coat to wipe the ball, resulting in him receiving a yellow card for his actions.
š” We can confirm @lukeleahy was shown a yellow card tonight for drying the ball on a steward’s jacket prior to taking a throw-in. pic.twitter.com/BTbKWCZ0M5
ā Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) February 22, 2024
This act violated the rules, which prohibit the use of any material or drying garment to wipe the ball before a throw-in, as it is considered an unfair advantage for the team.
The EFL put this rule in place at the start of the season, along with the introduction of a multi-ball system in all competitions to increase the pace of the game.
The said at the beginning of the season: “The EFL will introduce a multiball system in all its competitions for the 2023/24 season.
“Match balls will be placed on cones in designated areas at pitch side to help increase the time of the ball being in play.
“Meanwhile, Clubs will no longer be permitted to use towels or other articles, including items obtained from spectators to dry footballs during matches.”
Wycombeās Luke Leahy receives a yellow card for cleaning the ball using a stewards coat.. Itās safe to say that is a first for me pic.twitter.com/kcfuSbIaAY
ā Jack Toulson (@JackToulson12) February 21, 2024
Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield, who marked exactly a year as manager with the win, said as per Telegraph & Argus: “You have to take the rough with the smooth in this game so nights like tonight you have to enjoy.
“I knew they would be more used to the pitch than us and we didn’t perform to our levels but we defended well and came up with a great moment at the end.
“It’s the stuff dreams are made of. I was into my 30s before I got to Wembley and managed to go twice so to now go as a manager, I feel extremely fortunate.ā
He told the Free Press and BBC Three Counties: āI got a call from the referee telling me that the game was in doubt because of the pitch, but I felt as the leader, there was no doubt we wanted to play.
āI didnāt want to give any of my players doubts, so I told them we were ready to play but in the back of my mind, I knew there would be challenges with the pitch.
āAt Adams Park, we have one of the best pitches in the league, but here, we knew gritty and messy but we got through it, even though we didnāt perform to the level that I know we can be at.
āOn the flip side, we showed some brilliant resilience, Max made some great saves and we got through it.
āA few of the lads have told me that they didnāt play to the best of what they can do usually, but I believe in this group.
āGraham Alexander is a brilliant man and I thought Bradford were fantastic.
āThey were very good when we played them in the FA Cup in November, they were better tonight as they played to their strengths, played on the pitch a lot better than what we did, created some good chances and we rode our luck.
āThere have been times during the season when we had played well but didnāt get the results, but today, it was the flipside as we got the win.ā
š Our manager!
Time for some reaction from Wembley-bound Matt Bloomfield. pic.twitter.com/kGiEzxiS9j
ā Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) February 22, 2024
šŗ The Battle of Bradford, 2024.
We were on the back foot for most of the game on a troublesome pitch, but dug deep and snatched it at the death.
Here are your highlights! pic.twitter.com/LGBawPR9of
ā Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) February 22, 2024
Bradford boss Graham Alexander: āHeartbreaking is a good way to put it.
āThe players were fantastic, the fans were brilliant, for 93 minutes it was a fantastic night inside Valley Parade.
āI cannot say anything negative about my side tonight, we were dominant and in control, just could not find that golden touch in front of goal.
āI am proud of this side. We have been hit hard with injuries within the squad. Whoever has stepped in has risen to the standards we set.
āTonight they stayed in the game, they continued to plug away, and they got their goal. I could not have asked more from my team after the game.
āAll credit to our players.
āWe had assertiveness in possession, we had control, we had a confidence with the ball. Against a League One side, we were the better side.
āThis hurts everybody, but we cannot let this affect us going forward and we cannot let our heads drop after this.
āWe can use this game as fuel. We have to show that on Saturday – these players have it within them to bounce back in a good way.
āWe cannot let ourselves feel sorry for ourselves and feel sorry for whatever comes you way. We have to turn this negative into a positive.ā
šŗ REACTION | Hear from a “heartbroken” Graham Alexander, following this evening’s @BSM_Trophy exit.#BCAFC | @BradfordLifts
ā Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) February 21, 2024
Twitter users reacted after a Wycombe player gets booked for drying the ball on a steward’s jacket prior to taking a throw-in…
@ffsConor: Deserved. No place in football for this sort of behaviour.
@jimmermordy: Example number 160 of the games absolutely gone
@Martinf683: It’s actually quite disrespectful to the steward. I’d have sent him off for being a two hat.
@SBeaverss: Why are they complaining itās literally the rules
@thehamletfan: What the fuck š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£
@connor_mh: The rule was added in to stop time wasting as players would take ages drying a ball before throws, Leahy done this during a sub so no time was ever wastedā¦what a awful new rulešrefs are keen to give yellows like this out but canāt seem to get easy decisions right though š„±
@UnbeatenStryjek: Game has well and truly gone
@AdamskiAfc: the FA must of really needed that Ā£12
@shanyloublog: I’m sorry… what… since when has that been a rule?! š¤£
@Prestonoldham51: Act like a prick get treated like a prick . Not sure what point you are trying to make other than your man is an idiot and should have a bit more respect for people.
@LeeHall1977: Absolutely shocking. Should have been a straight red and 25 match banā¦
@JackHud372727: I love football
@benji_wafc: Games in the mud man
@ScottMoreton5: Wrexham fan in peace. At the start of the season I know the FA said towels could not be used and I seemed to remember that it said using other things such as fan supplied towels etc in wasn’t permitted. Obviously this effected our own Ben Tozer throws
@Salop_Nathan: Fuckin love @lukeleahy. Last season it was a Bolton fans flag this season itās a stewards jacket šš
@DookesCastillo: And you want to add āblue cardsā to this madness
@tomdorey03: Players are now genuinely being booked simply for drying a football Yeah, this sport is well and truly dead if you are being booked for that, pathetic!
@AdamEllison83: Letās be honest. The yellow was because he is a cunt! Not because he is shit at drying up!
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