Sky stand-off for Leeds United
EMBATTLED football club Leeds United has had to deny reports that it will retract TV rights to Sky after squabbles over live match changes.
Paul Bell, executive director of Leeds United said that he needed “to set to record straight” after a Football League meeting.
He said the club is not seeking or taken legal action to dismantle the selling of TV rights. Despite this, the club is protesting about the “entirely disproportionate number of times Sky have selected the club for live transmission.”
Mr Bell said that Leeds was not a “lone, isolate voice” and that other clubs had raised their concerns over the controls exercised by Sky over the league fixture list.
Related: Leeds United fans launch protest against club owner Massimo Cellino…
In December the club said it had “reluctantly” allowed Sky cameras into Elland Road to broadcast a match against Derby.
In October, chairman Massimo Cellino threatened to limit ticket sales to Leeds fans for away games in protest of the policy on televised matches.
This follows a difficult period for the club, after a large banner ad, paid for by fans, was erected in an attempt to protest Massimo Cellino’s chairmanship.
Law firm Ward Hadaway has said that should the advert remain outside Elland Road, a formal complaint will be made to police and licensing authorities.
The firm sent the following statement to City Ads: “This poster has obviously been placed outside the entrance to Mr Cellino’s place of work so as to cause the maximum distress to our client.
“This exacerbates the quantum of harassment that is intended to be caused and is malicious.”
“If necessary we anticipate being instructed to obtain the appropriate court order to have you disclose this information and will seek the costs incurred in doing so from you.”
Mr Cellino is waiting for an appeal date to contest a second Football League ban for breaching its owners’ and directors’ test following a tax evasion conviction in Italy.
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