'Club are frustrated' - Leeds United deeply unhappy with police impact on big away trip

A frustrated Leeds United have confirmed their trip to Blackburn Rovers on November 30 has been brought forward 90 minutes to a 1.30pm kick-off. A statement from the Whites even says they pushed back on an earlier start time too, understood to be noon on the same day.

United’s statement lays the blame for the change at the door of Lancashire Constabulary. In a statement, the police said: "Lancashire Police requested the kick-off time for the Blackburn Rovers versus Leeds United fixture on Saturday, November 30 be brought forward to 1.30pm to minimise the risk of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour. We look forward to welcoming Leeds United to Lancashire and hope all fans attending the fixture have a safe and enjoyable visit."

Earlier, a United statement said: “Leeds United travel to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday, November 30, 2024. The Championship clash has now been moved to an earlier kick-off time of 1.30pm, after a request and intervention from Lancashire Police.

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“The club are frustrated this decision was not taken at an earlier date, which may now inconvenience the travel plans of supporters. The club also pushed back on an even earlier kick-off time, while ensuring the full away allocation at Ewood Park would be made available.”

United’s allocation is between 7,000 and 7,500 tickets at Ewood Park, in what is always the best-attended away game of the season for Leeds in the EFL. One of the frustrations from Elland Road is this season, for the first time, every kick-off date and time until early January had been confirmed before the campaign even got underway.

This is the first match that has been changed since that first announcement of the schedule. It means Leeds will have marginally less time to recover and prepare for the match after hosting Luton Town less than three days earlier.