As the war of words continues, the Football League have now blamed Massimo Cellino for the late announcement that the Middlesbrough game will be moved to the Monday night.
Fans of both clubs have been infuriated that less than four weeks notice has been given that the game will now be played on Monday, February 15 to allow for Sky TV coverage, long after some fans had booked travel and accommodation to get to Elland Road on the original date, including a group of 35 Leeds fans from Norway.
But the Football League are now claiming that Sky originally selected the game back in December, and the delay in the announcement was down to a legal challenge by Massimo Cellino. A League spokesman said today "It is a matter of regret to the Football League that supporters of Leeds United and Middlesbrough have only been informed of the new date for this match at such a late stage.”
"Like other matches being broadcast during February, this game was originally selected for transmission by Sky Sports in early December with home clubs asked to make the necessary arrangements at the time. However, as was referenced by Leeds United in its statement of December 29, the club has challenged the League ‘through the appropriate legal routes’ which has prevented confirmation of the date of this fixture until now.”
"Due to ongoing legal restrictions the League cannot comment further at this time.”
Leeds fan Scott Jones from Merthyr Tydfil has started this petition, to stop Sky causing fans who have already paid for travel and accommodation to lose out, and you can find it here.