LEEDS AND POPESCU PLEAD KEWELL INNOCENCE
The club also face a second charge from Uefa of indiscipline after having Jonathon Woodgate, Ian Harte and Jason Wilcox booked by Michel and Harry Kewell sent off, following their four bookings in the first leg, which brought the automatic ruling.
However, Leeds are contesting the Kewell sending-off after replays showed that the talented Australian made no contact with Gheorghe Popescu, who clutched his face as the striker stepped over him, meaning that they would escape further charge if his red card is rescinded.
It is, though, still expected that he will incur the automatic one-match ban for Leeds' next European game even if their appeal is successful, as will Ian Harte, who picked up his third booking of the tournament.
Club secretary Ian Silvester confirmed: "We shall be appealing against Harry's sending-off because we believe that he never touched the Galatasaray player. I am not sure what view the referee had of the incident, but if a player is rolling around the pitch clutching his face in apparent agony then any official will react."
Leeds manager David O'Leary was damning in his criticism of Popescu after the game, saying: "Harry Kewell didn't do anything wrong. Popescu's reaction got him sent off and he should be ashamed of himself, because he is a cheat. The other guy's sending off was also a joke.
"I've got two children and on their lives Popescu cheated tonight getting a player sent off. I know he didn't touch him. Popescu knows himself. I looked him in the eye and there was not a scratch on him. He should be ashamed of himself."
The former Tottenham defender countered the claims and denied that he is a cheat, saying: "I did not cheat. It was not my intention to get Kewell into trouble. If O'Leary has called me a cheat then he is wrong and should apologise.
"I would hope it was just a case of him being upset because Leeds had just lost an important game but I would like him to know that I would never try to get an opponent sent off."
He added that he will back Leeds' claims over Kewell's innocence and that he was trying to protect himself. "Kewell should not have been sent off. He never touched me.
"I was covering my face with my hands because I was worried Kewell was going to stand on me accidentally when I was on the floor. When I got to my feet I was amazed the referee had shown him the red card.
"I tried to tell him it was a mistake but it was too late. He did not want to know. I will tell anyone who wants to listen that he is innocent."
It has also been revealed that a Uefa investigation will be launched next week after Galatasaray striker Hakan Suker was hit by what appeared to be a coin during their semi-final, second leg between the clubs.
The player handed the coin to referee Lubos Michel, who passed it on to fourth official Vladimir Hrinak and Europe's governing body are expected to act when they receive the official reports from Michel and the Uefa delegate at Elland Road.
Highly-rated Suker said of the incident, on his return to Istanbul: "I was hit on the head by something. I picked up a coin and gave it to the referee."
Before any subsequent charge is made, Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale announced that the club would punish the offending supporter, stating: "If it's proved that there was an object thrown by somebody in the crowd and we can find out who it was, that person will be banned from this club for life."
However, such swift action may not prevent a further charge from Uefa after a disappointing, controversial and tragic end to their Uefa Cup campaign.
