Leeds United Call for Legal Crackdown on Jimmy Savile Football Chants
Leeds United Football Club has issued a formal plea to football authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service, demanding that chants referencing the notorious sex offender Jimmy Savile be treated as tragedy chanting and prosecuted as public order offences.
Campaign to Broaden Legislation
The Yorkshire-based Premier League club is lobbying for existing laws on tragedy-related abuse to be expanded to cover Savile chants, which currently fall outside the scope because they do not directly relate to football incidents. The CPS defines tragedy chanting as abuse referencing fatal accidents or stadium disasters involving fans, players, or officials of rival clubs, such as the Hillsborough disaster or Munich Air Crash.
Leeds argue that the vile taunts, heard from both home and away supporters at Elland Road, should be classified similarly due to their offensive nature and impact on victims.
Widespread Issue at Matches
Chants about Savile, who was born in Leeds and spent much of his life in the city, have persisted for years, with incidents reported throughout the current season. Notably, both sets of fans engaged in such chanting during Leeds' recent FA Cup victory over Norwich City.
A club spokesperson stated: "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."
Condemnation from All Sides
The club has explicitly condemned retaliatory chants from their own supporters, emphasising a zero-tolerance approach. They hope media attention will spur action from governing bodies to eradicate the behaviour.
The Football Association has backed the stance, with a spokesperson saying: "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."
Legal Framework and Potential Outcomes
Three years ago, the CPS strengthened laws on tragedy chanting, allowing prosecution as a public order offence with potential supporter bans. Leeds want this framework applied to Savile chants, arguing they constitute hate crime and should be punishable under the law.
The club's efforts, reported by the Athletic, aim to ensure both away fans and their own supporters face legal consequences if they continue the chants, marking a significant step in cleaning up football culture.
