Leeds leave suspended Casilla waiting on judgment
HEAD COACH Marcelo Bielsa says he does not know what disciplinary action if any Kiko Casilla faces from Leeds United, but the goalkeeper is training with the first team during his eight-match suspension for alleged racist language.
Casilla is not due to play until after Easter after an independent regulatory commission dismissed his claim he did not use racist language towards then-Charlton Athletic forward Jonathan Leko in September’s Championship match.
Anti-discrimination body Kick It Out have complained the punishment is not severe enough but offered an “olive branch” to Casilla, as well as apologising to Leko for not providing “appropriate support”.
When asked what action the club would take against the Spaniard and if he would play for Leeds again, Bielsa replied: “I don’t know the club position,” adding: “He is still (training) with the group.”
Casilla was also fined £60,000 by the FA and ordered to attend face-to-face education.
Kick it Out have offered “practical support and continued opportunities for re-education”, to Casilla and Leeds, but said the ban was inadequate.
“We should not shy away from fully confronting the ugly and shocking nature of this racist comment,” said a statement.
“We are somewhat disappointed with the length of ban, particularly as the FA were pushing for an additional two matches. This ban is in line with a similar case going back eightplus years and we would ask does it send a message that we have not moved on since?”
Bielsa has offered sympathy to victims of racist abuse, and stressed his support for Casilla is not condoning racism.
“Any person who suffers racist abuse deserves the solidarity and support of everybody,” said the Argentinian. “I don’t want people thinking supporting Kiko means we support racists. Any person that suffers racist abuse deserves the support of all of us but if any colleague is suffering for any reason, we act in a human way.”
Bielsa confirmed January signings Ian Poveda and JeanKevin Augustin will not be fit to face Huddersfield Town on Saturday, but Leeds have no fresh injury concerns.