Leeds United will continue to fight against any abusive and unacceptable behaviour from fans with a series of measures to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect players, staff, and other supporters.
New policies, procedures and regulations came into force at the start of the 2023/24 season with the aim of improving behaviour on the pitch, on the side-lines and in the stands, and to make sure that the actions of the minority do not spoil the game for everyone else.
To challenge abusive language and unacceptable gestures, including tragedy chanting, supporters will face stadium bans and potential criminal prosecution.
Football authorities, supporter groups and law enforcement organisations, including the police and CPS, have united to crack down on fans who participate in offensive chanting, gesturing, and displaying offensive messages based on football-related tragedies, which causes significant distress to the victims’ families, survivors, and affected-club supporters.
In addition to bans and criminal sanctions, a range of in-stadium, in-classroom and online resources will be rolled out under the ongoing ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ banner, to educate adults and children alike about the hurt tragedy chanting causes. Ground regulations have also been updated to incorporate references to tragedy chanting.
The game will also continue its efforts to combat dangerous, illegal, and unwelcome behaviour off the pitch, be it in the stands or online. Last season a host of new measures were introduced by authorities which saw enhanced sanctions applied for people identified entering the pitch, using pyros, taking drugs to games, throwing objects or for discriminatory abuse which includes offensive language towards the LGBTQ+ community, female supporters, against any religion as well as any form of racism.
Anyone who is displaying any of the actions spoken about here are not welcome at Elland Road, and we will continue to work hard to eradicate these behaviours from the game we all love.