Leeds United discovered yesterday, completely by surprise of course given chairman Andrea Radrizzani’s words about the disparity in the current EFL television deal, that our game against Sheffield United at the beginning December has suffered a small change to accommodate the Sky Sports audience.
???? | #LUFC against Sheffield United has been selected for live TV. The game will now kick-off at 12:30pm on Saturday 1st December pic.twitter.com/XFTMJAjXEI
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 15, 2018
The game at Bramall Lane had already been given an early kick-off on the day owing to the Yorkshire derby nature of the affair against Chris Wilder’s side, and it continues to take place on Saturday, December 1, but the kick-off moves to 15 minutes later than originally scheduled and the game will now get underway at 12.30pm.
To be honest, I imagine most fans assumed this game would be picked for a national audience given the nature of it so I doubt, at least in this instance, anyone will be overly troubled when it comes to their travel plans but that isn’t always the case.
Reactions from fans on social media was probably predictable.
We should really be on Sky more
— ZL (@SupremeJansson) October 15, 2018
— Andy H ???????? 80/92 ???????? (@LiloMan_LUFC) October 15, 2018
Won’t it just be easier to announce the games we’re not live on Sky Sports? ????
— Lee Aldridge (@leeLUFCaldridge) October 15, 2018
I think our players should be allowed one swear word per live match we get a season
— Tom Wilson (@TomWilson2323) October 15, 2018
nice to be on tv for a change
— George (@GeorgeWLUFC) October 15, 2018
When are Sky Sports announcing the new Leeds channel does anybody know…? #SkySportsLeeds #MOT #ALAW ⚽
— Craig Horner (@CraigHLUFC) October 15, 2018
— Connor Denno Denniss (@connor6lufc) October 15, 2018
I think you’ll get the general impression from that selection. I believe that’s seven out of the next eight games that will be screened.