Millwall's Ryan Tunnicliffe claims that referee Darren Bond asked him what he was expecting him to do with a coin that was thrown at the midfielder during Saturday's controversial defeat to Leeds on Saturday.

A number of objects were thrown onto the pitch as Millwall celebrated Ben Marshall's converted penalty that put the visitors 2-1 up ten minutes into the second half, an incident for which Leeds could yet face punishment from the footballing authorities.

Speaking about the incident, News at Den quote Tunnicliffe as saying: “I got a 20p thrown at me.

“I picked it up and flipped and gave it to the referee but he didn’t want it.

“I tried giving it to him and he said, ‘What am I supposed to do with it?’ I said, ‘Someone’s thrown it at me so I’m sure you’re supposed to do something about it.’"

When asked for his opinion on the incidents, the midfielder gave a matter of fact answer, claiming: “I don’t want to say it’s part and parcel of the game but obviously they’re passionate and emotions run high.

“I’m not going to sit here and cry about it, it’s been done before and I’m sure it will be done again. I can’t stop it or say much about it. Obviously celebrating was fun for us and they tried to get their own back, that’s what they chose to do.

“If I threw it back I’d be looking at a ban so I think I did the best thing in trying to give it to the referee and get on with the game.”

Any fine handed to Leeds would be the third time this season the Yorkshire have been forced to pay for misdemeanours, having previously been fined £20,000 over the Spygate saga, and £5,000 for a touchline scuffle during February's win over Bolton.

The verdict

This seems a strange thing for a referee to say in response to such an incident, given the seriousness of the matter and the potential ramifications, as well also being the common procedure to take.

For Millwall though the result will likely be much more of a concern, and while it may not have been a game they necessarily targeted, the nature of the defeat means it is one that they hope they look back on and rue come the end of the season.