The atmosphere at Elland Road has improved following a dismal final season in the top division, and fans are once again thrilled about the chance to watch their club play every week.
One wrench has been thrown into the works, though, when it was revealed on Thursday, February 8th, that Sky Sports had chosen to broadcast the Whites’ game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
As a result, the match will now start at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 8, instead of Saturday, March 9, at 3 p.m. Although this change affects both teams’ preparations, it is also a bold decision considering the rivalry between the two Yorkshire teams in the past.
A single Leeds United fan entered the pitch on a Friday night in 2012, and shortly after Michael Tonge tied the score for the Whites in the second half, he attacked and shoved Wednesday keeper Chris Kirkland. This derby took place on a Friday night.
That evening, Dave Jones, the manager of Wednesday, made it clear how unhappy he was with the way Leeds fans had behaved, both in relation to the Kirkland incident and the chants that were directed at the management.
As cited in The Guardian (October 19, 2012), he declared: “Everyone who supports Leeds will be blamed equally, and rightfully so, since it seemed like many of them, not just one, were chanting the deplorable things.”
“The club needs to clean its house out. You don’t go and wave at them after the game. For what? For wrecking a stadium and beating up my goalkeeper?
“I thought that had gone out of the game and we’re talking about that instead of a great game. They’re all vile animals, all of them, and it needs sorting and quickly.”
Sky Sports choice a mistake for Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday
In the end, a lot has happened since that match over a decade ago, but it still seems absurd that Sky Sports is scheduling this match for a Friday night rather than an early kickoff on a Saturday or Sunday.
It probably increases the likelihood that a similar incident will occur at Elland Road, in addition to making it more difficult for fans to travel to the game—as has already been the case for Leeds this season.
While we can only hope that the match in March goes ahead without a hitch, it appears that Sky Sports and the EFL have taken a shameful decision that could turn into a rod for their own back.
