Wolves fined by FA following heated clash with Leeds

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been fined by the Football Association (FA) for failing to control their players during the 4-2 defeat against Leeds United last month.

Julen Lopetegui’s side were left frustrated following a string of contentious decisions involving VAR that played a part in the agonising defeat.

Leeds had opened up a three-goal lead in the 62nd minute, but goals from Jonny Otto and Matheus Cunha put Wolves within reach of a potential comeback.

However, they were thwarted after VAR recommended that referee Michael Salisbury overturn an initial yellow card decision to hand Jonny a straight red for a challenge on Luke Ayling.

Rodrigo then put the game beyond Wolves’ reach with a late strike, but the home side’s protest for the goal to be chalked off was waved off by the referee, despite a VAR review showing Marc Roca pulling Adama Traore’s shirt in the build-up.

Midfielder Matheus Nunes was sent off for allegedly barging into the assistant referee during the protest, but his three-game ban was later overturned following an appeal.

An FA statement (via The Athletic) read: “Wolverhampton Wanderers have been fined £57,500 following an incident in the 98th minute of their Premier League game on Saturday, 18 March, against Leeds United.

“Wolverhampton Wanderers admitted failing to ensure that their players and technical area occupants do not behave in a way which is improper towards an assistant referee and the fourth official.

“An independent Regulatory Commission imposed their fine following a subsequent hearing, and the written reasons for this sanction will be published in due course.”

This is the second time Wolves have been punished by the FA for failing to ensure their players conduct themselves in an orderly fashion, having been fined in January after a mass confrontation following their Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Wolves have managed just one win from their last six games following Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Forest, and their survival bid looks bleak at the moment.

Lopetegui’s side will welcome out-of-sorts Chelsea to Molineux this weekend with just two points separating them from the bottom three.