Sports

Owner urges fans to 'stay at home' as Leeds close on promotion


Andrea Radrizzani took over Leeds United from fellow Italian Massimo Cellino in May 2017

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has urged fans to stay at home and celebrate if they win the Championship title.

The Whites, who host Barnsley on Thursday, need a maximum of four points from their final three games to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years.

“Football means little without the presence of fans,” Radrizzani said.

“However, it’s vitally important we stay safe and keep those around us safe too by staying at home.”

Victory over the Tykes at Elland Road would move Leeds to within a point of automatic promotion.

And they will go up before Sunday’s trip to Derby County if either second-placed West Bromwich Albion or Brentford, in third, drop points when they face Huddersfield on Friday and Stoke on Saturday respectively.

“The fight against Covid-19 is not yet over and we must continue to be sensible,” Radrizzani wrote in an open letter to supporters published in the Yorkshire Evening Post.