Massimo Cellino: 'I had nothing to do with player absences'

Leeds United president Massimo Cellino has insisted that he had nothing to do with the events that led to six players withdrawing from the squad for Saturday's match at Charlton Athletic.

Mirco Antenucci, Giuseppe Bellusci, Dario Del Fabro, Marco Silvestri, Souleymane Doukara and Edgar Cani withdrew from the squad on the eve of the trip to The Valley, blaming injuries, which prompted some observers to suggest that they had gone on strike.

Cellino has denied that he was involved with the incident.

"I am not a coward and not the sort of guy who tells his players to go on strike," he told The Sun.

"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."

Leeds lost the match 2-1.