Leeds vs Derby to be shown on TV after Massimo Cellino U-turn sees Sky Sports allowed in to Elland Road after stand-off
Leeds' home match against Derby is the tenth time the Yorkshire club will be screened live on TV in the Championship this season
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Your support makes all the difference.Leeds United have “reluctantly” allowed Sky Sports’ production staff into Elland Road to broadcast tonight’s Championship match with Derby County live after a stand-off with club owner Massimo Cellino threw the match’s coverage into doubt.
Just before 3pm, Sky Sports were allowed into the ground after a stand-off which had lasted over 15 hours, with the club issuing a statement to confirm the U-turn are refusing the broadcaster’s entry to the ground.
A club 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."
Talks between the Football League and Leeds appeared to be at a stalemate as late as 2.30pm on Tuesday afternoon, less than 6 hours before the match was due to take place, after Cellino refused Sky Sports’ production crew entry to the Elland Road stadium to set-up their camera equipment.
Leeds have already been shown live nine times this season on Sky, with the festive fixture against Derby set to take them into double figures. However, it is understood that their owner, 59-year-old Cellino, has grown tired of seeing their fixtures altered to accommodate live TV coverage and has instructed staff not to allow Sky Sports’ staff into the ground.
Despite the controversial Italian – who is currently in Miami in the United States – awaiting an appeal date in his attempt to fight a second Football League ban following a conviction for tax evasion in Italy, he risked further punishment with his refusal to give Sky Sports entry and could have been in breach on the broadcasters contract that has been agreed with the Football League had he maintained his stance.
A Football League spokesman said earlier on Tuesday: "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."
Cellino has already tried to take measures against the Yorkshire club being repeatedly shown on television after capping Leeds’ away support to 2,000 fans in a bid to show that his club will not be taken for granted, although he would later reverse the decision after fans protested against him.
Sky Sports had confirmed that would not be making a comment due to the issue falling at the feet of the Football League and Leeds to resolve.
Football League rules state that broadcasters should be granted access to stadia.
The rules read: "73.2 The League or any subsidiary or associated company of The League or duly authorised agent or broadcaster (and its respective employees and agents) shall be allowed access to the grounds of all Clubs (and to the television gantries, camera positions and facilities) for the purpose of recording or broadcasting matches arranged under the jurisdiction of The League."
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