Leeds United fans will probably have EFL Rule 3.4 imprinted on their minds following the whole Spygate nonsense and Andrea Radrizzani has come out with both barrels blazing after a family were ejected from Ashton Gate during the weekend’s match with Bristol City.
Our recent relationship with Bristol City given Steve Landown’s points deduction ramblings is ropey to say the least and in response to the ejection story hitting social media, Radrizzani offered.
This is unacceptable and we will invite the family at Elland Road as guests. what can you expect from a club whom request points deductions for no reasons and didn’t accept our documentary crew to access at the ground and follow our team. Focus on Reading now #mot 💛💙 https://t.co/ajOZaVDYZ6
— Andrea Radrizzani (@andrearadri) March 10, 2019
For balance I have to say, it’s believed the documentary crew did have access but not to the tunnel for a period as reported by Bristol Live but fans will certainly love the gist of his broadside.
And they did.
Classy that Radz.
— Micky P Kerr (@MickyPKerr) March 10, 2019
Love it Andrea! pic.twitter.com/qf9ABIbOfO
— Tom Holynski (@ThommHol) March 10, 2019
There were plenty of reactions along those lines, but the the strand from it that caught my eye was mainly the fairness of the issue.
They booked tickets in good faith and informed the club they were Leeds fans and they still concluded the bargain so are innocuous socks a good enough reason to eject a family from a football ground’s Family Area?
Not for me, or else why have Family Areas? Okay, full replica kit and chanting like a war horse and I’d say you’re pushing your luck, but a Family Area is designed for families and supposed to be more child friendly when it comes to language and partisan behaviour.
Does a pair of socks really breach that?
Plenty of others commenting seemed to think so, and predictably so did Bristol City supporters who took offence to the ‘attack’ on their club. I can’t be the only one to see the irony as they now walk in another clubs’ socks – so to speak – thinking they are being unfairly singled out?
I don’t think this one will gain much more traction but maybe Bristol City would now like the EFL to invent new rules to clarify ‘utmost good faith’ to paying supporters who are upfront about their allegiances?