Sky think they own football now

[bennythedip2]

Leeds coverage in doubt (December 29 2015)

The Football League has told Leeds they will be charged with misconduct with a "full range of sanctions" available if they continue to prevent tonight's match with Derby being televised.


Press Association Sport understands controversial owner Massimo Cellino has instructed staff to deny Sky Sports' production crew entry to Elland Road for a game which is to be broadcast live on the network.

Staff from Sky Sports were denied entry to Elland Road on Monday as they arrived to set up for the match and, as of Tuesday morning, access had not been granted.

Cellino's stance in response to the number of times his side have been shown on Sky Sports this season, resulting in late kick-offs and date changes.

Leeds have been shown live on Sky Sports nine times already this season, with Tuesday's game taking them into double figures, with four of them home games. Two further games are already scheduled for 2016, making Leeds the joint-most covered club in the Championship, along with Derby.

Earlier this season Cellino said he would be capping Leeds' well-known large away support at 2,000 in order to make the point that his club would not be taken for granted, only to reverse the decision after fan dissent.

His latest move has been to deny Sky the right to broadcast, however the League has told Leeds that access must be given to Sky if disciplinary action is to be avoided.

A spokesman said: "Under Football League regulations, clubs are required to provide access to the League's broadcasting partners for the purpose of setting up and filming any matches that are selected for transmission.

"Failure to do so will lead to a club being charged with misconduct with the matter being referred to an independent Football Disciplinary Commission (FDC).

"The FDC has a full range of sanctions at its disposal."

Cellino is no stranger to controversy, with his near-two years in charge of United littered with outbursts.

The 59-year-old sacked manager Brian McDermott without permission on his first day at the club, and has since worked his way through five more managers, while he is currently waiting for an appeal date as he fights a second Football League ban for breaching its Owners' and Directors' test following a tax evasion conviction in Italy.

He will not be present at Elland Road on Tuesday as he is in Miami and has left the enforcement of his ban with other staff.

Sky Sports had no comment to make, with the resolving of the issue falling at the feet of the League and the club.

The League's rules state that broadcasters should be granted access to stadia.

The rules read: "73.2 The League or any subsidiary or associated company of The League or duly authorised agent or broadcaster (and its respective employees and agents) shall be allowed access to the grounds of all Clubs (and to the television gantries, camera positions and facilities) for the purpose of recording or broadcasting matches arranged under the jurisdiction of The League."

Although Sky staff normally access stadia a day in advance, it is understood equipment can be set-up in as little as three hours.

Bennys view .. At last a chairman with balls that stands up against the 'Murdoch Empire' ..
Sky Corporation thinks it should run football and the scheduled times the games are played ?

Fair play to the Leeds owner for telling them to F'cuk Off ..

Money grabbing Corporate Cnuts now telling the FA how to run the game.. ..

[bennythedip2]

Again the Murdoch Corporation get their own way ..

As if it was not bad enough that FIFA had it's fingers in the till, we also have Sky sports who are running it's own game plan !!!

'It's All about the Money for Murdoch and his greedy Corporate company"

So now Leeds have been forced to let them in ..Here's the chairmans statement

United president Massimo Cellino had intended to ban Sky from broadcasting the game in a bid to make a point about the amount of times his club have been televised this season.

Sky staff were unable to enter Elland Road on Monday, as is customary on the eve of a game, and as of 2.30pm on Tuesday, the Italian had not relaxed his position with Sky's crew and Football League executive Shaun Harvey waiting in a car park.

However, just before 3pm, Cellino - currently in Miami - relented, and allowed Sky in, although he signed off on a club statement which voiced unhappiness at the situation.

"The Football League regulations are supposed to be there to protect the integrity of the sporting competition, not to be used as a stick to beat the club on behalf of Sky," it read.

"Leeds United season ticket holders have had enough of these fixture changes, the players and staff have had enough, and Leeds United Football Club has had enough.

"It is to be noted that the League threaten a disrepute charge against the club. It is the League who are bringing their own competition into disrepute by unfairly prejudicing Leeds (and certain other clubs) by allowing Sky to unfairly disrupt Leeds United for their own commercial purposes."

[Part-Timer]

Whilst I have some sympathy with the supporters I have non for the clubs owners. They accepted the pot of gold from Sky. They shouldn't complain when Sky expect them to honour the contract. We have foreign owners buying our clubs left right and centre. Methinks it's not for the love of English football.

[Tony2005]

What makes you laugh is that Leeds are complaining they are on to often but they get extra money when their games are shown and...

They are one of the bigger supported teams with fans all around the country so the only time these fans get to see games is when they are on tv.

Yes i dont like the way Sky have spoilt football but they paid way to much money for it then they needed to ...