Leeds United Fans Stage Football League Protest
Leeds United fans are protesting outside the Football League headquarters today over the decision to ban Cellino
Hundreds of Leeds fans are set to protest in Preston this morning outside the Football League headquarters.
It follows the banning of Massimo Cellino from acting as owner and director of United.
Jason is one of the organisers, and told us why they decided to start the protest.
“We who’ve helped to organise this are neither pro or anti Cellino,” he said.
“It’s the timing of wanting to try to remove Massimo Cellino for three months - which we don’t deem fair - in the middle of the season which could have a detrimental effect to one of the members of the Football League.
“We’re hoping between 500 and 1,000 people will attend.”
The organisers have liaised with police in Preston to ensure the protest remains peaceful.
They’re hoping the Football League will review the criteria it uses to determine who can and cannot be deemed qualified to own a Member Club.
The protestors will also be handing over a petition started last month which has now gained over 21,000 signatures from 84 different countries.
“I know of at least one club who want to see how this goes with a view to them doing their own protest. There will be a lot of aggrieved fans out there who would come together to have their say.
“Ours is the first of its kind. But I don’t think people understand the depth of the feeling that’s out there.”
Andy is another one of the organisers heading down to Preston.
“It was the initial anger of what the Football League had done to Cellino,” he said.
“Everybody was up in arms. There are 21,000 signatures on this petition. It’s their time to stand up for the club and have their voices heard.”
The protest is expected to begin after 10am outside the League’s head office.
A spokesman from the Football League said: “We fully understand the importance of fans having the opportunity to make their collective voice heard on such important matters and recognise this petition demonstrates a strength of feeling amongst many Leeds United supporters that we will take note of.
- “We also believe it’s important to clarify that the the League is a democratic body of clubs and is required to act in the best interests of its membership as a whole. In the majority of cases this will be to the benefit of all 72 member clubs but from time to time some clubs will believe that decisions made by the League are not in their individual interests. *
“This is not entirely uncommon and is an inevitability of such a broad body of clubs working together as a collective entity. While not everyone can be happy all the time there is, nonetheless, an overwhelming sense of commitment to the greater good amongst member clubs.”