As Leeds United celebrated a legal victory, will fans be counting the cost in the future?

On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in London upheld a High Court judgement from last year where Leeds United won a legal battle over who should foot the costs for policing outside the stadium against West Yorkshire Police.

The landmark victory will see Leeds pursue compensation for now unlawful costs incurred for policing, the club having successfully argued that it is police responsibility to ensure law and order on the highways eg the areas surrounding the stadium.

It is understood that WYP will not challenge the ruling any further.

Whilst the club are understandably jubilant, Shaun Harvey paid a glowing tribute to the club's legal team, will the cost be greater in the long-run?

It is worth remembering that WYP effectively reduced the away allocation of two high profile cup ties against Premiership sides this season, the League Cup quarter-final against Chelsea and the FA Cup fourth round against Spurs saw both London club's allocation reduced to just 3000 from around 5000 costing the club revenue.

The police can also meddle with kick-off times and having played Millwall last weekend at 12:30, forthcoming games against Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday will also be lunchtime kick-offs.

I can see merit in Leeds legal argument, after all pub landlords and Niteclub owners don't get charged any extra on their rates for the costs sorting out the mayhem in the streets when pissheads pour out if their establishments, however it would not surprise me in the slightest if Plod make life more difficult for us all in the future.

Photo: Action Images

080153 added 07:58 - Mar 8 I dont think it makes a lot of difference, Plod will make us play at a time that suits them even though we hardly ever see any trouble outside Elland Road . Away support is always welcome by the vast majority of supporters as is 3.00 kick offs and adds to our match day experience. Plod just want a quiet life , they dont care about the fans .
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GelderdEnder added 08:19 - Mar 8 The WYP really worry me. They are completely over the top compared with many forces. At Man City there were two columns of seats between us and the City supporters, no problems at all. They had blue bibbed liaison officers who were friendly and helpful and bobbies who used their initiative instead of robots. I was on the wrong side of a barrier blocking away fan's exit but pointed to where I was parked and the officer let me through seeing there was no way I was going to cause trouble. Compare the WYP who now close down most of the South Stand each time they have a concern - did you see how many of them were policing Millwall game for only 90 away fans - it was a joke. Almost every away crowd complain about the way they are treated and it all contributes to falling attendance. They have become a problem when they should be part of a solution.

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