“The presence of the fans has an effect on the results”
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has suggested supporters of Premier League clubs should only be permitted to attend games when all teams are allowed to welcome fans back.
The introduction of the government’s new tiered system means clubs in Liverpool and London can welcome as many as 2,000 supporters to their home games when current lockdown restrictions are lifted on December 2.
However, half of the Premier League’s clubs – Leeds, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Leicester, Burnley, Sheffield United, West Brom and Wolves – are situated in Tier 3 areas, meaning they must continue to wait until it is deemed safe enough to allow fans back.
While Bielsa agreed that it was important that fans and clubs obeyed the new rules, he also suggested that, in the interest of fairness, clubs in other areas should also wait before opening the turnstiles up again.
“Perhaps there could be a rule that states that if fans are not allowed in all stadiums, then they should not be allowed in at all until everybody is allowed to have them in,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be about the category, or the consequences of being in a category, it should be about trying to maintain the competition as equal as possible with things that are controllable.
“I am just looking at common sense, which perhaps doesn’t go. The presence of the fans has an effect on the results.”
Leeds’ fans are yet to see their side in action at Elland Road since ending their 16-year absence from the top flight with promotion at the end of last season. Their next home game comes against West Ham on December 11. Before then, they visit Everton on Saturday and Chelsea a week on Saturday, a game that will be attended by some of the home support.
