'Crazy', 'Bizarre' – These Leeds fans react to Phil Hay post about Leeds & Sky Sports

Dave is a huge Leeds fan and ardent disciple of Bielsa ball. A career in print magazines that included editing PC Zone, launching PokerPlayer and redesigning The Big Issue has finally led Dave to writing about the love of his life, Leeds United. It’s been a tough 2020 but the single scariest moment was the first quarter of the game against Man City. Rodrigo will be the saviour this season.

Published on:

07 Nov 2020, 6:00 am

Leeds United fans have got history with Sky Sports.

The broadcaster had to mute the Leeds supporters last season every time the infamous Sky song started out from the Elland Road stands.

When games moved to behind closed doors, Sky hit back by piping in the "Leeds are falling apart" song during live broadcasts.

That let to Leeds lodging an official complaint.

And the Leeds v Sky Sports spat went further back.

Ahead of the Crystal Palace game today Athletic journalist Phil Hay relived a "bizarre" and "crazy" episode from 2015.

The story of Massimo Cellino vs Sky Sports in 2015.

- Cellino in Miami as chaos broke out
- Sky and EFL CEO locked out in Fullerton Park
- Players unsure if game against Derby would go ahead
- how Cellino always planned to back down at the last minutehttps://t.co/1SUFzWRMFa
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) November 7, 2020

Then owner Massimo Cellino took Sky Sports head on over the broadcaster putting too many Leeds game on live.

Cellino thought the money that Leeds got for the games was less than the matchday revenue lost.

And he took a stand on December 28, 2015, ahead of the Championship game against Derby the next day.

He locked Sky Sports out of Elland Road and entered a stand-off that could have seen the club facing disciplinary charges.

It's the first and only time that a club has directly taken on the EFL and Sky Sports over its broadcasting deal, and in the end Cellino relented and unlocked the doors for the camera crew on the day of the game.

Ironically, the Leeds United fans would love to be able to watch today's game on Sky.

The 3pm game today is one of the last PPV games that will see fans charged £14.95. The controversial PPV games are being scrapped after the international break.

Many fans will boycott the game and donate the money to charity instead.

In the meantime, plenty of them reacted to the Phil Hay story about the Cellino stand. The owners was deeply unpopular but this was one of the few things that united some fans behind him.

Others thought that it was a good idea but executed in the wrong way.

Here are the best reactions to the Phil Hay story...

Good read, have to agree with Cellino on this one, odd character but some of his opinions were valid it was just the implementation and communication style
— Dirty Filthy Leeds Scum (@VileAnimals) November 7, 2020

In many ways all feels like a weird dream now. A time capsule full of continuous chaos.
— Matt Ashton (@MattAshtonDJ) November 7, 2020

Picked him up in my cab in London.
Absolutely fruitcake.
Loved the C word 😂 gave him 60p off the fare to the cause😂
— Cheshunt ABC (@CheshuntABC) November 7, 2020

In other Leeds United news, 'Big boost' – Exclusive: Pundit reacts to early Leeds team news v Crystal Palace

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