QPR handed huge boost as Leeds man to serve one-match ban and £2000 fine

Queens Park Rangers will be taking on Leeds United in their penultimate match of the 2023/24 Championship season. The Loftus Road side sit 18th in the league with only six points separating them from 23rd placed Huddersfield as the battle at the bottom continues.

Friday will see them welcome a club hopeful of securing promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking but Leeds will be without one touchline man after he was charged by the FA for misconduct.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke’s assistant Christopher John will serve a one-match ban and has been handed a £2,000 fine for his actions during the closing minutes of Leeds’ defeat to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 13 April. The assistant was shown a straight red card by the match official, James Bell, as the Leeds bench were protesting the decision not to award a penalty despite what the home dugout believed to be a foul on Patrick Bamford.

Speaking at the end of the match, Daniel Farke said: “My staff members were appealing for a red card, it’s also quite normal at the crunch time period. You also have to understand the emotions, especially after what happened the other night. I have to ask for the explanation.”

A statement released by the FA on Thursday said: “Leeds United’s assistant manager has been suspended from the touchline for one match and fined £2,000 after misconduct at their EFL Championship game on Saturday 13 April. Christopher John admitted that his behaviour was improper during the 97th minute. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a subsequent hearing.”

John will serve his one-match ban when the Whites head to the capital this Friday. The Hoops continue to be without Taylor Richards and Michael Frey but should have no further injury concerns as they prepare for a match in which neither can afford to drop three more points.