Jim White has slammed a section of the Leeds support after the 1-1 draw with Derby on Saturday.
Leeds dominated the game with 13 shots to Derby’s five and five on target to Derby’s one [SofaScore], but fell to a sucker-punch equaliser in the dying minutes of the game.
White, who was at the game, said that Elland Road was “absolutely jumping” but added that he was shocked by the level of abuse dished out to Derby centre-back Richard Keogh.
“I heard something chanted at Leeds,” White said on talkSPORT (Jim White Show, Monday, 10.30am). “Elland Road was jumping, I absolutely loved it.
“One thing disturbed me, though, the abuse Leeds fans dished out to Keogh. He took it in his stride and at the end he was the first to jump on Chris Martin when he equalised, and I was thrilled to see it.
“The bucket mouths at Leeds, I was happy that they only went home with one point instead of three.”
Guest Danny Murphy asked, “Is this not part of football?”
“I think if it was good-humoured it would be okay,” replied White, “but this was anything but.”
Abuse must be stamped out
The majority of the fans at Elland Road on Saturday were in good spirits, but there’s been history between Leeds and Derby, with spygate setting the tone for last season ahead of the play-off semi-finals.
It’s a rivalry that’s been built up quickly and that led to a section of the support seemingly taking things too far.
Keogh played in the play-offs and angered Leeds fans as a central character in their on-pitch celebrations following the 4-2 win at Elland Road. [Leeds Live]
Talking to the Athletic ahead of the game, Keogh stirred the pot a bit more, saying the 4-2 win last season was his “second favourite game” of his career.
One Leeds fan accused Keogh of trying to get at Patrick Bamford during the game, and he had a falling out with Ezgjan Alioski after the final whistle on Saturday. [Derby Telegraph]
White is right when he says that players getting stick from the fans is part of the game, but straight out abuse shouldn’t be tolerated.
We don’t know what was chanted by the Leeds fans but the talkSPORT host was certainly disgusted enough for him to make a point of it on his show this morning.
And there have been many more serious incidents reported recently.
Racism is still rife in the game, with Romelu Lukaku abused by Cagliari fans and Marcus Rashford targetted on Twitter after missing a penalty for Man United.
A Chelsea fan was banned for life last season after racially abusing Raheem Sterling during a game against Man City.
Abuse that crosses the line must be stamped out in whatever form it takes.