Graeme Hanna

Wed 3 May 2023 6:40, UK

Journalist Oliver Holt has hit out at Leeds United players over the “awful” incident prior to the game in Bournemouth at the weekend, as featured in the Daily Mail, [Page 63, 02 May].

The players were heavily criticised for ignoring fans, including a family with a young lad decked out in a full Leeds kit, who were waiting inside the team hotel, to see them off to the Vitality Stadium.

The club issued an apology on Monday, insisting that “words can’t express how sorry we are” [Sky News].

Whilst it has been suggested that some members of the squad, including head coach Javi Gracia did stop for a moment to interact with the supporters, Holt is correct to blast those who did not even acknowledge the fans.

“But we can argue all we want – sometimes, it’s just about basic humanity, about manners and about not forgetting where you came from,” he stated.

“These images are pictures of an elite league that is steadily losing contact with its fans.

“It’s not a good look.”

Learn from it

As if the weekend wasn’t bad enough for Leeds with the terrible result against Bournemouth, this incident just made things worse.

The feelings of supporters who made the trip to the south coast would have been compounded and angered further, after seeing the cold, blank approach of several players.

At the very least, a wave and a smile are what should be expected. The boy will have treasured getting up close to his heroes but the moment was soured by some reactions, including the inexplicable decision of the club member of staff who stood directly in front of the family meaning they could not see.

Relegation fight, going for the league, whatever. It really doesn’t matter about pressures on the pitch when it is about basic human contact and giving back to the fans in a small way.

An apology should not have been required this week, but the Whites and other clubs must learn from it.

In other Leeds news, Jermaine Beckford delivers a sack verdict on Javi Gracia after what he heard from BBC pundit.