Leeds United vs Derby will be shown on Sky Sports after hosts ‘reluctantly … – Telegraph.co.uk

The League had threatened Leeds with action if they followed through with their plan to lock Sky out, but the club’s statement read: “The Football League regulations are supposed to be there to protect the integrity of the sporting competition, not to be used as a stick to beat the club on behalf of Sky.

“Leeds United season-ticket holders have had enough of these fixture changes, the players and staff have had enough, and Leeds United Football Club has had enough .

“It is to be noted that the League threaten a disrepute charge against the club. It is the League who are bringing their own competition into disrepute by unfairly prejudicing Leeds (and certain other clubs) by allowing Sky to unfairly disrupt Leeds United for their own commercial purposes.”

Tuesday’s game with Derby is Leeds’ 10th game of the season to be shown on the Sky network, with two more scheduled for early 2016. Derby are the only other side with a dozen games either shown or slated.

Sky had close to 40 production staff waiting in the club’s Fullerton Road car park ready to set-up equipment, while Harvey – formerly of United – was attempting to fix the situation via a string of telephone calls from his car.

Dear Massimo Cellino, your league attendances have been HIGHER at Elland Road for SKY games this season, on average, then when TV not there.

— sportingintelligence (@sportingintel)
December 29, 2015

It is believed that Cellino was aware that Sky could set-up in as little as three hours and, come 3pm, the signal came to allow them in.

The crew was immediately mobilised, but there could well be further fallout from another madcap day at Leeds.

Cellino has never been far from the headlines since arriving at Leeds at the start of 2014 but this will rank as one of his more high-profile stunts.

He has long been looking for a way to prove a point to the game’s dealmakers, and in October said he would be capping Leeds’ well-known large travelling support at 2,000. He eventually relented after fan dissent.

Cellino – who is onto his sixth manager in under two years at Leeds – is currently waiting for the League to let him know when his appeal against their disqualification of him will be heard. The League banned him for a second time in October for failing its Owners’ and Director’s test after a tax evasion conviction, although his appeal means he can maintain his influence at the club at present.

Sky have already shown Leeds live eight times

When it looked as though Sky would not be allowed any access, the League said Leeds would be charged with a “full range of sanctions” available if they held out.

A Football League spokesman said: “Under Football League regulations, clubs are required to provide access to the League’s broadcasting partners for the purpose of setting up and filming any matches that are selected for transmission.

“Failure to do so will lead to a club being charged with misconduct with the matter being referred to an independent Football Disciplinary Commission (FDC).

“The FDC has a full range of sanctions at its disposal.”

The only comment from the League in the wake of Cellino’s decision was to release a short statement saying: “Sky Sports personnel have now been granted access to Elland Road and this evening’s match between Leeds United and Derby County will be broadcast as scheduled.”