Gary Lineker has delivered a brutal Twitter verdict on the new Leeds United crest that has attracted widespread mockery since its unveiling earlier today (Wednesday).
The design, which was showcased for the first time on the official Leeds Twitter account and website at lunchtime on Wednesday, depicts the ‘Leeds Salute’, which is used extensively, and notably on match days when, with right hand on heart, fans sing the club anthem ‘Marching on Together’.
???? | Our new crest #MOT #LUFC
6 months of research
10,000 people consulted
Ready for the next 100 yearsWatch video ?? https://t.co/rIIdL2Yz9F pic.twitter.com/pMrd3zTjCl
— Leeds United (@LUFC) January 24, 2018
The fresh design has met with a universally negative reaction from supporters, with most dubbing it “horrendous” and “embarrassing”.
A number of fans commented that the badge looks like something out of Pro Evolution Soccer, a popular game in which teams are renamed and crests are redesigned.
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker joined the hordes on social media mocking the new crest, claiming it “gives me heartburn just looking at it”.
Gives me heartburn just looking at it. pic.twitter.com/T2HmqjzipJ
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 24, 2018
A petition calling on Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani to scrap the new crest had soared past 40,000 signatures early on Wednesday evening.
OPINION
Leeds bosses claim to have sought the opinions of more than 10,000 stakeholders during a six-month process before signing off on the final design. Quite who those people were might need some explanation give the universally savage response to the new crest. It is rare that there is this level of agreement on anything, and the United hierarchy must take heed of it. They might have had good intentions but they have miscalculated, got it completely wrong and need to admit that, go away for a re-think and come up with an alternative few options that they can then put to a vote on the official Leeds website. Surely, it’s not that difficult.