Hannibal Mejbri has faced consequences after admitting to spitting at Leeds United supporters earlier this season, leading to a four-game suspension and a £15,000 fine from the FA.
The incident occurred during Leeds’ 2-0 defeat to Burnley in October, a tough loss for the Whites since their Premier League comeback. Despite goals from former Chelsea player Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna for Burnley, Hannibal’s performance in the game was significant. However, his actions overshadowed the match.
Although video evidence did not conclusively prove the spitting allegations, Leeds fans were visibly upset by Hannibal’s behavior, prompting a misconduct charge from the FA. The subsequent hearing resulted in the four-game ban and fine.
The punishment has left Leeds supporters dissatisfied for two main reasons. Firstly, past spitting offenses in football have often resulted in six-game bans, with examples like Borja Sainz and Samuel Saiz facing this level of penalty. Secondly, the timing of Hannibal’s suspension means he will only miss two games before potentially joining his national team for AFCON.
This abbreviated punishment period, especially for a serious offense like spitting, has raised concerns among fans and football pundits. Keith Hackett, former chief of the PGMOL, suggested a minimum 12-match ban for Hannibal, indicating the severity of the action.
The decision to issue a lesser punishment than expected has created controversy and dissatisfaction among Leeds United supporters, who feel that justice has not been adequately served in this case.
