Today marks one of the saddest moments in the history of Leeds United, it is exactly not what football should be all about.
Many, many of us were looking forward to the first leg of our semi final clash in Istanbul. We were on a roll. We had played in Partizan Belgrade in Heerenveen (for security reasons – war that is!), been to Moscow twice, although the 2nd visit was always going to be doomed to failure given how cold it had been the first time round. We had been on some damn good trips to Rome and Prague, and now were looking at two games to take us to the final against Arsenal. It was within our reach.
Most of us were already in Istanbul, having travelled with Big Fat Tony from UF Tours. Some of us were waiting at Leeds Bradford airport for the early morning flight with The Travel Club. None of us could have foreseen the events that took place.
For whatever reason, to this day, no one will know the full truth of what happened, two fans didn’t come home from a football game. Much has already been written about this, I do not need to and will not add anything further. I repeat, not what football should be about.
In previous posts, I have already highlighted the prejudice that Leeds United has been subject to. This season it has been the Football League and Sky joining the long list of other institutions that just cannot hide their dislike of us. UEFA has been a long standing perpetrator ( Paris, Salonika etc.etc.) and the wholly unjustified 15 point deduction in 2007 from the collective Football League Clubs to make sure we could not get near promotion, is another classic example of the disparity. Not that we all need reminding, but every year there is the constant reinforcement of the “us v them”.
Our continental cousins have always had much more hooliganism problems than us. Yes England can boast about The Service Crew, The HeadHunters, The InterCity Crew, The Herd etc. but quite frankly some of the European Ultras don’t actually have issues will killing each other, let alone have a fight. UEFA can’t deny that the problems exist, but they are happy to focus their attention on the English clubs, well, because they can, I suppose. Leeds is the equivalent in England. Whatever we do is twice as bad as any other club / player of a club doing it.
Whether it be the recent treatment of Mr Cellino ( incidentally CLEARED of all charges) by the Football League or the corrupt referees in the 1970s, the phenomenon perpetuates year on year. Liam Cooper has got a 6 match ban for something that I scarcely noticed in the ground. Yet that elbow to Chris Wood’s face was looked at, and no action needed apparently. Hmmm.
However, whatever “they” throw at us, we just keep going. Do you remember when the team used to come out to Tubthumping by Chumbawumba? I get knocked down, but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down. This is what our football is all about. This is Leeds United.
This day however, we will not forget.
RIP lads
