Simon Jordan and Jim White argue over Leeds United banning announcement
Simon Jordan and Jim White argued over the Leeds United plan to ban parents whose children run on the pitch.
In a statement on their website yesterday (6 January), Leeds United announced they were taking “a zero-tolerance approach” and would be issuing one-year bans to parents or guardians of children of “young supporters sent onto the pitch”.
This follows a number of instances of children running onto the field to interact with players after matches.
Host White was in full support of the move, saying on talkSPORT on Friday (7 January 11.20am): “It’s crazy in my view. It’s absolutely sacrosanct. You cannot go on the pitch at any time.”
He rejected Jordan’s suggestion that the issue was being overblown, to which the former-Crystal Palace chairman accused him of being a “curmudgeon”.
“Don’t turn it into something that it’s not… Put them back in their box. That’s it,” said Jordan.
“I agree with you… but they aren’t committing mass murder when they come on the pitch. They’re just asking some overpaid footballer to give them his shirt,” he added.
Increasing trend
The Leeds announcement’s focus on the parents and guardians points to the key point in the matter.
Recent years have seen a gradual increase in instances of young fans running onto pitches and the end of games around the world to try to interact with their heroes.
Often stewards are waved off by the stars in question who will then take selfies or give shirts while generating some good PR for themselves.
Most people probably do not begrudge young children the chance to briefly meet their idol, but the suggestion is that not all of the pitch-invaders are simply caught up in the moment.
It appears Leeds are the first to respond to the suspicion that parents are using their kids to run on in an attempt to acquire shirts that they themselves might want, possibly in order to sell on, hence the increase.
If so it is probably inevitable that teams would start to make moves such as this one, especially as there is sure to come a point when a young fan who looks older than they are is tackled and dragged from the pitch before turning out to be only 12.
In other Leeds United news, this PL transfer target subject to competition.