Relieved O'Leary escapes FA action

The Leeds manager David O'Leary hailed a victory for "common sense" yesterday after avoiding further punishment following his 'sending off' against Chelsea on Sunday.

O'Leary was left fuming with referee Paul Durkin and assistant Phil Sharp in the wake of Chelsea's Graeme Le Saux's two-footed lunge on Danny Mills, a tackle he later described as "disgraceful".

Le Saux escaped with only a booking, which led O'Leary to first remonstrate with Sharp on the touchline before confronting Durkin in the tunnel.

Durkin immediately banished O'Leary to the stands for the second half of the goalless draw at Elland Road, which led to the 43-year-old Irishman expecting to be summoned to the Football Association's Soho Square headquarters for a disciplinary hearing.

O'Leary had vowed to argue his case in a bid to avoid a potential three-game touchline suspension, but the FA have confirmed no further action will be taken.

"I am glad to see common sense has prevailed," said a delighted O'Leary, who maintained from the start he never used foul and abusive language.

"I am not proud of being sent to the stands for the second half and I am not proud to see how I reacted, but it was in the heat of the moment and it was a bad challenge. However, the matter is now closed."

It was an explosive incident for which the Chelsea captain has since apologised to Mills, who was left with raking stud marks down his thigh.

Durkin, having watched a replay of what unfolded, has now realised he made a mistake and that Le Saux should have been dismissed, although the FA have underlined the fact they cannot act in hindsight.

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "The FA would like to make it clear that no retrospective action can be taken following the game in which the referee has made a clear decision on the field of play.

"The video advisory panel can only be called upon when officials have not seen incidents."