Leeds have dropped their appeal against Lee Bowyer's European ban and have accepted the midfielder will miss the first two matches of next season's UEFA Cup campaign. Bowyer was banned for three matches after being caught on television stamping on Valencia striker Juan Sanchez in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
Leeds appealed and UEFA did offer to hold the hearing by telephone on the eve of the second leg, but the club decided to play the match - which they lost 3-0 to the Spanish side - without him and have a formal hearing later.
Chairman Peter Ridsdale and manager David O'Leary both planned to attend the hearing in person to represent Bowyer, who insisted the incident had been accidental. However, following talks with UEFA disciplinary officials, Leeds have now accepted there is no way the suspension will be reduced - and were warned it could even be increased.
They have dropped the appeal and it means O'Leary will have to plan for the start of next season's European campaign without both Bowyer and Alan Smith, who was sent off in the dying seconds of the second leg and has a three-match suspension to serve. (PA)
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
