Chelsea were leading 1-0 when Sánchez went to ground and remained down while Chelsea's outfield players walked to the touchline to receive instructions from interim head coach Calum McFarlane. Leeds midfielder Ethan Ampadu attempted to interrupt the conversation between McFarlane and Tosin Adarabioyo.
Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia then forcefully pushed Ampadu away, sparking a confrontation that spilled among several players and staff on the touchline. The Leeds bench protested to the match officials throughout.
Former goalkeeper Rob Green, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, was pointed in his assessment.
"As a former keeper having played for Leeds, it was a plan as a keeper to go down. But it needs to be stopped."
Head coach Daniel Farke declined to make the incident a centrepiece of his post-match comments, instead taking responsibility for the defeat.
"I spoke about this several times this season — after a loss I want to show class. It would have just been seen as excuses. I would have said a few words about it had we turned the game. I don't want to make a big topic."
He gave an honest verdict on why Leeds fell short despite creating the better chances. "Overall it was a very tight game. I saw the statistics — xG, shots, big chances missed — and we were the better side. But it's also fair to say we weren't at our free-flowing best, some unnecessary losses of possession, a bit clumsy in the build-up. You could tell the players were a bit nervous. Their keeper with great saves. Our deliveries, our crosses, set-pieces were not that tidy today. We needed this tidiness to create more."
He concluded: "Of course we would have loved to let them dream a bit longer. But I don't want to miss saying congrats to Chelsea first."