Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has banned the BBC from all access to the club, apart from existing contractual obligations.
The ban was discovered when reporters from Radio Leeds were refused admission to a press conference at the Elland Road stadium last week.
The row is apparently because Bates is unhappy about a BBC TV documentary currently being made about the club’s ownership. It’s understood reporters and producers won’t be allowed to cover press conferences or talk to players or club staff on match days – unless commercial deals require them to be permitted. A meeting is due to take place between the BBC and the club tomorrow (Weds).
A BBC spokesperson told their in-house magazine Ariel: “We have been informed by Leeds Utd FC that there will be no co-operation with the BBC outside the existing contractual agreements. We would like to reassure listeners that BBC Radio Leeds will continue to broadcast Leeds United match reports, there will be some commentary on Five Live, and goals will be shown on the BBC Football League Show.”
The Guardian newspaper is also currently banned from the club because of its reporting of the ownership situation.
Posted on Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 at 4:14 pm by RadioToday UK