Leeds United have urged the Crown Prosecution Service and English football authorities to take stronger action against opposition fans singing songs about Jimmy Savile, calling for them to be officially classified as “tragedy chants.”
Songs about Savile, one of the UK’s most notorious sex offenders, have frequently been heard at matches involving Leeds since he died in 2011.
Savile was born in Leeds and spent much of his life in the city, though he had no actual connection to the football club.
Such chants have surfaced on several occasions during Leeds games this season, most recently during last weekend’s FA Cup clash with Norwich City at Elland Road, where they were heard from supporters of both teams.
Leeds United are livid and want to clamp down on the Savile chants
The club authorities are not pleased to hear the Savile chants and how they are poisoning the atmosphere at Elland Road and other grounds when Leeds United play away from home.
Leeds termed the chants as ‘sickening taunts’ that has on place in the modern name and insisted that calling them officially ‘tragedy chants’ should be the first step at addressing the problem.
An official spokesperson from the club told The Athletic: “Leeds United Football Club have lobbied and would be fully supportive of Jimmy Savile chants being classed as tragedy chanting and a hate crime.
“The club’s supporters are subjected to these sickening taunts at every match by opposition fans, which should not be happening in today’s game and are a disgrace to the victims of Jimmy Savile’s abuse. Equally, the club disapproves of retaliatory chants from our own supporters.
“The club is pleased this is finally being brought to the forefront by the media and hope that this can be the first step in helping to eradicate these chants, with support of the relevant governing bodies.”
The FA need to act
Healthy banter between opposition fans has always been part of football, but sometimes, this has crossed into territories that do not have a place in civil societies.
The Jimmy Saviel chants, the Hillsborough chants at Liverpool fans and the Munich chants directed towards Manchester United fans are some of the examples of fans crossing the Rubicon.
The FA need to step in and take some stern action to ensure the atmospheres inside English football stadiums do not become unbearable for many.
An FA spokesperson said: “We strongly condemn any offensive, abusive and discriminatory chants in football stadiums.
“It is unacceptable and can have a lasting and damaging impact on people and communities within our game — and we support any club and their fans who try to eradicate this behaviour from the terraces. We continue to work closely with our stakeholders across the game and the relevant authorities to proactively address this issue.”
