Banned Leeds United owner and president Massimo Cellino has denied telling six of the club's players to go on strike on Friday and insists such actions would be cowardly.
Six overseas signings, five brought in by Cellino, declared themselves injured on Friday ahead of Saturday's trip to face Charlton Athletic. Mirco Antenucci, Giuseppe Bellusci, Dario Del Fabro, Marco Silvestri, Souleymane Doukara and Edgar Cani all pulled out of the squad at the last minute.
Leeds lost 2-1 away at Charlton and head coach Neil Redfearn, who had not been aware that any would miss the game prior to Friday, insisted he had to take the six on their word that they were injured.
And Cellino, who is currently serving a Football League ban until May, insists he had nothing to do with the events that took place, despite a number of fans feeling that there is more than meets the eye to the injuries.
The Italian businessman told the Sun: "I am not a coward and not the sort of guy who tells his players to go on strike.
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"I only found out on Friday evening. I admit it looks weird. But if the players were injured, why didn't the manager inform the chairman?
"This looks like a fight between manager Neil Redfearn and the ownership of the club, which is not good", Cellino added.
And the Whites owner is hoping to attend the club's final match of the season at home to Rotherham, insisting that if the fans want to voice their feelings against him at Elland Road then he can handle it.
Cellino explained: "From day one I felt I was at the right club, because I am more f****d up than the fans.
"I am 58 and my dream is still for us to do something big here. I have asked permission to go to our last game of the season against Rotherham, a day before my ban ends.
"If the fans want to kick me and shout at me, fine. I am used to it."
Leeds, who sit 16th in the Championship following a run of five consecutive defeats, have just two games left this season as they bid to end their campaign on a high.
They are both Yorkshire derbies, with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday coming before they host Rotherham.
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