UEFA have charged Lee Bowyer with unsporting behaviour after he apparently stamped on the head of Malaga's Gerardo in last Thursday's UEFA Cup tie at Elland Road.
Following a review of video evidence of Leeds' 2-1 defeat to the Spanish side, European football's governing body have started disciplinary action against Bowyer. However, no punishment will be imposed until January 8 when UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body meet.
Serious cases of violent conduct usually carry at least a three-match ban but in Bowyer's case, with the nature of the incident, it could be longer. Any suspensions will only affect club games in Europe, and carry over even if he leaves Leeds during the January transfer window, or if he joins another clubwhen his contract runs out in the summer.
Bowyer has, of course, earned quite a reputation for his indiscipline. He was banned for three games by UEFA in 2001 for stamping on Valencia's Juan Sanchez in the Champions League semi-final, and last season he picked up a six-match suspension and stg£10,000 fine from the English FA after being found guilty of elbowing Gary McAllister and, in a separate incident, for swearing at referee Jeff Winter.
Filed by James Boylan.
