Leeds fined after spectator physically abused Eddie Howe
The pitch invader managed to get into the technical area at Elland Road during a Premier League match last season
Leeds have been fined £20 000 - after a spectator physically and verbally abused Newcastle manager Eddie Howe at a match last season.
Leeds fan David Derbyshire managed to get into the technical area of Elland Road stadium, during a Premier League match last season, between Leeds and Newcastle.
Derbyshire was sentenced to 3 months in jail back in September, and handed a six-year football banning order after confronting Howe during the game on the 13th of May, 2023.
The Yorkshire club, now in the Sky Bet Championship, had a further £20,000 fine suspended until the end of next season by an independent regulatory commission.
Leeds had admitted a Football Association charge in relation to the incident.
The commission's written reasons in reaching its decision stated: "All participants are entitled to go about their business on gameday on the assumption that they are safe and protected.
"In this instance, an individual spectator behaved in a significantly improper manner, gaining access not only to the pitch but also to the technical area, including a physical and verbal altercation with the opposing manager. On any view, that is a most serious occurrence."
Derbyshire was apprehended initially by a steward and then very quickly in addition by a close protection officer linked to Newcastle.
The commission was satisfied that Leeds had "low culpability".
"(The club's) planning was detailed and excellent and it is unfortunate for Leeds that one small area of weakness was exploited by a lone individual intent, for unknown, inexplicable and inexcusable reasons, (on) getting into the technical area," the written reasons read.
"That a spectator can get into the technical area and physically and verbally remonstrate with a manager is self-evidently harmful to the image of the game and has a real threat of invoking copycat incidents.
"This was a significantly serious breach with significant harm."