Legal Point: Are Leeds United FC responsible for the behaviour of Leeds United supporters during an away game? Are they responsible for the Leeds supporters inside and outside the stadium? How long are Leeds United FC responsible for the behaviour of Leeds supporters, i.e. are they responsible for fans who cause a fight in a pub, an hour after the game? My own feeling is they are not, what they must do, is make sure they have acted in the appropriate way to avoid issues with supporters and I would suggest Leeds United FC will have carried this out. This incident was carried out by around 10 individuals (who looked very similar and acted like they had planned it) and it is they who should be punished, not the club. Edit: I doubt this is the view that the Football League will take and we will be fined and supporters banned.
http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-t..._fans_1_197579 TWO Leeds thugs are in jail today after being involved in a terrifying attack on Ipswich fans during last season's match at Elland Road. The pair are among 13 of the Yorkshire club's supporters to be banned from football for a total of 45 years when they appeared before Leeds Crown Court. The attack was said to have left one female Ipswich fan ânumb with fearâ while others, including some of whom were disabled, came under a barrage of coins and other missiles during the pitch invasion. Nathan Addison, of Halifax, was jailed for four months and given a six-year football banning order after admitting throwing coins during the match with Town last April. Craig Lackey, of West Park, Leeds, was jailed for six months and given a six-year banning order for his part in the attack. Addison and Lackey appeared with another 11 fans at the crown court who admitted affray. Former Ipswich Town player Tommy O'Neill had his jaw broken during the attack. He said: âI'm very pleased that some action has been taken, even for just a couple to be put away means there are two less of these animals to worry about. âSaying that, whoever caused the damage to me should be getting a longer sentence than those handed out. It was a totally unprovoked attack on an Ipswich crowd comprising mainly of families. âIn hindsight I wish I had stayed around a bit longer to help identify some of them because most of the worst trouble happened outside the ground and not on the pitch. âI've been involved in football for many years and had never seen anything like this before. I have not been to an away game since then and probably will not go to another one again.â The court heard that disabled Ipswich supporters came under attack as Leeds United followers vented their anger at Blues' fans on the day the club was relegated to the third tier of English football. A hardcore of 200 Leeds fans who invaded the pitch in the final minutes aimed their fury at the directors and then turned their attention to the 1,500 Ipswich fans. Ipswich fan Katrina Hammond, 17, who has cerebral palsy and was in a wheelchair at the pitchside last April, had to be comforted by her parents as gesticulating hooligans got within a few feet of her and other disabled fans. The court was told one woman's nine-year-old son was in tears after being hit in the stomach by two coins. A small number of police officers used their batons to keep the Leeds fans at bay during seven minutes of mayhem. The trouble was caught on camera by police intelligence officers. Michael Smith, prosecuting, said pitch invaders had thrown coins, lighters, bottles, match programmes and even the corner flag. Mr Smith said: "A handful of officers and stewards formed a line protecting the Ipswich supporters. "Disabled Ipswich fans were at pitch level and unable to leave as they were in wheelchairs, although they may not have been the intended recipients of the (Leeds fans') actions. One woman had to hide behind her husband's wheelchair for protection. She saw a lady, a cut under her eye, numb with fear." In December Christopher Charles, the grandson of former Leeds and Wales legend John Charles, was sent to prison for six weeks by magistrates for offences at the same game. The 22-year-old from Pudsey, Leeds, pleaded guilty to attempted criminal damage, pitch invasion and breaching a three-year banning order. Nathan Addison, 22, of St James Road, Halifax, who threw a coin, was sent to prison for four months and given a six-year football banning order, preventing him from attending any football match. Craig Lackey, 41, of Hawkswood View, West Park, Leeds, was sent to prison for six months and given a six-year banning order. Graham Brewer, 37, of Leven Street, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Cleveland: Four month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, 280 hours community work, £500 costs and a three-year banning order. Stephen Marshall, 39, Sycamore Court, Selby: Four months in prison, suspended for a year, 240 hours community work, a three-year banning order, £500 costs. Neil Masterman, 23, Grange Court, North Grange Mount, Headingley, Leeds: Four month jail sentence, suspended for a year, a three-year ban, 240 hours work, £300 costs. Paul Fox, 37, Granny Avenue, Churwell, Leeds: Four month jail sentence, suspended for a year, 240 hours unpaid work, a three-year ban and £300 costs. Craig Spencer, 22, Exley Gardens, Exley, Halifax: 240 hours community work, a three-year ban, £500 costs. David Cousins, 34, Inglewood Drive, Cross Gates, Leeds: 200 hours unpaid work, three-year ban, £250 costs. Christopher Bird, 20, Brooklands Avenue, Seacroft, Leeds: 200 hour unpaid work, 12-month supervision order, three-year ban, £250 costs. Aaron Bratton, 17, Lanshaw Crescent, Belle Isle, Leeds: 180 hours unpaid work, three-year ban, £250 costs. Shaun Booth, 40, Bourneville, Goole: 150 hour unpaid work, three year ban, £250 costs. Aaron Cawley, 16, Blenheim Square, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: 12-month action plan order, three-year ban. Nigel Bishop, 40, Lane Road, Lincoln: 150 hour unpaid work, three-year ban and £400 costs.
Because all the younger ones now still hear about teams like Leeds in 70's and think its still like that now. So all the ****wits who think they are Muhammed Ali mixed with Bruce Lee are attracted to the rep not really the club.
Of course, we dont attack players or chant vile stuff, we all meet up before every game and sing Kumbaya.
