Leeds United are ripping off Bristol City and Championship fans - it's time for the EFL to take a stand
Bristol Post
Friday 16th February 2018
It has been revealed that Bristol City have sold fewer than 600 tickets for their trip to Leeds United on Sunday afternoon.
You can understand why given the eight-hour round trip from Bristol, totalling a mammoth 400 miles.
The game has been moved to a Sunday after been selected for coverage by Sky Sports with fans clearly the least of their concerns.
And to make matters worse for Robins supporters, Leeds are charging £42 on the day of the game - an increase of £5 from the adult advance price.
Paying £42 to watch Man United, Arsenal or Man City in the Premier League would be expensive but the top-flight now has an away ticket cap at £30.
1,300 Millwall fans paid £42 this season,but later Leeds offered everyone of them £9 back, which they asked to be donated to charity.
Even at Ashton Gate, the Robins do charge £41 on the day for premium plush seats in the Lansdown Stand. That is expensive but at least supporters are given a choice in the matter.
Leeds introduced an A+ category this season which could see match-day tickets at Elland Road cost £49 in certain parts of the ground.
By enforcing a £5 increase on the day for the Robins fans, Leeds are taking advantage of away supporters.
This is second tier football and Leeds shouldn't be allowed to charge rip off Premier League prices, especially in a division where geographical diversity presents a particular strain on regular away fans.
Leeds aren't the only club that rips off away supporters, Sheffield Wednesday often charge £42 for away fans too.
The average most expensive away ticket in the Championship is £31.69, according to the latest BBC's Price of Football survey from November.
Leeds fans on social media have come out against the ridiculous ticket prices with popular fan site WACCOE telling the Bristol Post that they want to see the away end sold out.
It's good to see, then, that Wolves have taken a stand by supporting their loyal supporters after subsidising prices for the Sky Sports Elland Road fixture on Wednesday March 7.
The run-away Championship leaders were being charged £37 by the Whites for the televised evening encounter but they have now paid to reduce tickets by £7 for adults and £5 for concessions.
A great gesture by the club who are rewarding their loyal support but it's surely about time the EFL intervened and introduced a cap for away supporters, like we have seen in the Premier League.
The Football Supporters' Federation continue to campaign and lobby the clubs for fairer prices with some successes. Reading have capped their tickets at £20 as part of the Twenty's Plenty campaign.
How much is too much for Championship football?
Can Robins' fans really be blamed for watching on the box when clubs are taking advantage of them in such a manner?
And shouldn't the EFL step in and help protect the wider interests of the game?
Money shouldn't be all that matters in football and far too often it is the loyal fans who pay the price.
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