Former Tottenham manager, Tim Sherwood, and ex-Liverpool winger Harry Kewell have expressed dissatisfaction over Kelechi Iheanacho’s poor sportsmanship conduct in Leicester City’s 1-1 draw against Norwich in Saturday’s Premier League game.
Iheanacho was taken off in the 39the minute by Brendan Rodgers for an act of ‘poor sportsmanship’. The former Man City man was given the ball to put out of play due to an injury to a Norwich City player.
However, instead of giving the ball back, Iheanacho ran with the ball to try and capitalize on the moment. The Nigeria international got stamped on and was surrounded by the entire Norwich City players following the melee.
The moment is similar to what Leeds United did last season in the Championship against Aston Villa where Leeds scored a goal after a Villa player went down.
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa was infuriated by his team’s decision, so he asked his players to let Villa equalised straight from the restart without any challenge.
Iheanacho’s conduct was a topic of discussion during the half-time analysis on Supersport, and Sherwood said was not happy with the Super Eagles star.
”There is a challenge here on Pukki, Ricardo goes down as well, they kick the ball out. Ricardo picks the ball up, and he tells Iheanacho to give it back to their goalkeeper. He takes it upon himself and they tackle him there, clear foul on the edge of the box, Sherwood said.
”Obviously, they feel very aggrieved for that, Norwich, I mean all over him. Todd Cantwell comes from a long way out, and grabs hold of him there, scratches him, but he is going to get away with that one.
”They checked that out and in the end, it was Maddison the one who kicks this one out, and I think he does right, the ex-Norwich player, he had a moral ground and I think he’s done the right thing”.
Kewell added: ”Iheanacho actually turns, looks and goes I am in space, give me the ball back, then he actually starts driving at the defence and you can see the reaction by the Norwich players, they are not happy but again the rule states you don’t actually have to do it.’
Nevertheless, Iheanacho is enjoying a new start at Leicester despite the disappointment of going off early against the Canaries.
