Leeds United will face a misconduct charge if they persist in refusing admission to Sky staff to broadcast tonight’s match with Derby County.
Leeds United will face a misconduct charge if they persist in refusing admission to Sky staff to broadcast tonight’s match with Derby County.
Owner Massimo Cellino is annoyed at the number of Leeds games that have been rescheduled for television and considers that the presence of the cameras depresses attendances. Leeds matches have been shown nine times on television this season, as have Derby County. Leeds’s attendance for televised games is actually higher than for those that are not televised, but this could reflect the fact that they are more attractive fixtures.
Cellino nevertheless has calculated that being on television costs the club about £300,000 a fixture, despite the fee of between £100,000 and £120,000 they receive from Sky.
Football League rules state: “73.2 The League or any subsidiary or associated company of The League or duly authorised agent or broadcaster (and its respective employees and agents) shall be allowed access to the grounds of all Clubs (and to the television gantries, camera positions and facilities) for the purpose of recording or broadcasting matches arranged under the jurisdiction of The League.”
Leeds have now ‘reluctantly’ allowed the televising of the match to go ahead. However, it is believed that Cellino has threatened to ban Sky again should they return to Elland Road. He argues that the Football League rules are there to protect the integrity of the competition and not as a stick to beat the club on behalf of Sky.