Leeds United fans “not blameless” following ‘disgraceful’ actions in Millwall clash

Leeds United crashed out of the FA Cup in the fourth round on Saturday when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Millwall at Elland Road. A rotated Whites line-up struggled for rhythm and consistency and the away side made full use of it by getting an unlikely result on the road. Millwall boss Alex Neil has refused to allow any credit to be taken away from his side by insisting that even he changed half the side on Saturday. However, there were ugly scenes in the stands when Millwall fans resorted to some distasteful chanting about a tragedy the Whites suffered in their history. Millwall have already apologised but Leeds fans have also been blamed for playing a role.

Millwall and Leeds United have a simmering rivalry that often goes under the radar but Alex Neil jibed last week that every team seem to have reasons to hate the Whites.

It is a fact that Leeds are one of the most hated clubs in England and despite spending a better part of the last two decades away from the spotlight of the Premier League, they remain a side that opposition fans love to despise.

However, the feelings towards Leeds and their fans sometimes go overboard, leading to some ugly chanting and that is exactly what happened at Elland Road on Saturday.

Some distasteful chants were heard from the away end where a section of the Millwall fans were signing about two Leeds fans who lost their lives on a trip to Turkey almost 24 years ago.

Leeds United fans are not blameless – jibes experienced journalist

The tragedy that happened in Turkey almost 24 years ago where two Leeds fans were stabbed to death when they went for a European clash against Galatasaray is a sensitive topic in the west Yorkshire town.

Over the last two decades, fans of several teams have used that tragedy and made some distasteful chants and songs, which has infuriated the club and the supporters.

The Millwall fanbase has a reputation for being distasteful and some of their supporters lived up to that on Elland Road with their singing and chanting about that tragedy.

However, Jim White claimed today he heard from Millwall fans that some Leeds supporters were also singing something distasteful about a former Lions goalkeeper who passed away.

We are not sure how much of it is true but the talkSPORT pundit insisted that Leeds fans must share the blame and try to change their own behaviour before pointing fingers.

“There’s a Millwall fan telling me, ‘Are you not going to mention some of the Leeds fans singing about a Millwall goalkeeper who died?'”, White said on talkSPORT.

“I am quite sure some of the Leeds fans are not blameless as well. I am not saying it is all down to Millwall fans.

“The minority of the Leed fans who got involved as well, do yourself and your club a favour and refrain from it.”

Leeds fans are no saints but Jim White is barking up the wrong tree

The Leeds supporters will be first to admit that a vocal minority have often put the club to shame for some of the distasteful songs they have sung over the years.

There are supporters of several clubs who have horror stories to share about Leeds fans and their affinity for tragedy chanting up and down the country.

However, on Saturday, it was the Millwall fans who got into the act and touched the raw nerve of the Leeds supporters concerning the stabbings in Turkey more than two decades back.

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If a few Leeds fans sang something distasteful about a dead former Millwall player, was it justified? No, they weren’t and if the club could identify and ban them, it would be a lesson for many.

However, the Millwall supporters need to take a long and hard look at themselves as their actions are making the headlines when the story should have been about a famous away win at Elland Road.