Simon Jordan criticises Marcelo Bielsa over Kiko Casilla captaincy decision after Leeds goalkeeper found guilty of racial abuse

The Premier League side were knocked out the competition on penalties after the Elland Road clash ended 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes, but the major talking point - aside from Bielsa making 11 changes - was Casilla's inclusion.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper was found guilty of racially abusing then-Charlton forward Jonathan Leko last season and served an eight-game ban for the offence.

Casilla was an ever-present for Bielsa's side prior to the suspension as the Whites ended a 16-year exile from the English top flight.

Leeds fans were critical of their manager's call to reinstate Casilla on Wednesday night, and talkSPORT pundit Jordan believes the selection was a statement by Bielsa to make it clear he continues to back his player.

The former Crystal Palace owner said on the White and Jordan show: "Leeds United are not entirely convinced that their own player was guilty of this [offence].

"And this decision to reinstate him, and to make him captain, feels more like Bielsa saying, 'I'm backing my player as I don't think he was guilty in the first place, so I'm going to put him back as captain'.

"Why would you light this blue touch paper? Even with the most obtuse of individuals, you know what the temperature is.

"Anyone with their eyes open is going to say, 'hold on a second; this guy was found guilty of racial abuse and you've made him captain of a Premier League team in this climate?'"

Jordan continued: "The unwiseness of this decision is not understanding the temperature of the climate we're living in, the world that we live in now, the world we should live in full stop.

"If he's used the language that's been attributed to him then it doesn't matter what the times are. It's like putting a thorn in a lion's paw.

"What's the point of making this guy captain? You have senior professionals and England internationals that have been given the captaincy in his absence while he hasn't been playing. I don't know why you'd need to make this stance."

Following confirmation of his ban in February, Casilla was said to be 'devastated' and thanked Leeds for their support.

Jordan, however, maintains the guilty verdict placed upon the Spaniard's head means Bielsa can't be seen to be giving him preferential treatment owing to the seriousness of the incident.

"I'm not a liberal leftie and trying to be all snowflakey, but this is very controversial, blue-touching stuff now," he added.

"Putting him as captain is only going to inflame people, and if you've got your own fans not comfortable with it then you're out of step with where the world is right now.

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"It's not necessary to create this furore. It's adverse publicity for a club that is right now going in the right direction, a club this is a sum of all its parts.

"And one of its parts, and an incredibly important part, is that phenomenal fan base. If they aren't happy with [the decision] then Bielsa maybe needs to think a bit more sensibly."

French youngster Illan Meslier ended the 2019/20 campaign as the Whites' first-choice goalkeeper and also played in last weekend's 4-3 defeat at Liverpool to begin the new Premier League season.

The newly-promoted outfit are believed to be interested in bringing in a more experience glovesman to add competition for places, and were said to be keen on Arsenal's Emiliano Martinez before his £20m move to Aston Villa was confirmed earlier this week.

Simon Jordan has expressed his bemusement at Marcelo Bielsa's 'very controversial' decision to reinstate Kiko Casilla as captain for Leeds' Carabao Cup clash against Hull City on Wednesday night.