Saturday 11 April 2015 14:55, UK
Cardiff have confirmed they will not take any away fans to Elland Road for their Sky Bet Championship clash with Leeds on Saturday.
The visitors were initially offered 1,000 restricted tickets, with away supporters required to swap a voucher for a match ticket en route to the stadium, but rejected the offer and then turned down a second allocation of 500 unrestricted tickets.
Leeds, who have rejected a request for the game to be beamed back, were allocated 2,000 seats for the reverse fixture in earlier this season and Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo said the club felt the restrictions on their fans was “substantially out of proportion to any perceived risk”.
Choo said in a club statement: "It's extremely disappointing to have reached this conclusion, but having listened to collective views and in knowledge of the positive record and reputation Cardiff City fans
have built at away fixtures in recent years, we have no option but to return the low number of unrestricted tickets on offer out of respect for our supporters.
"Our preference was for Cardiff City fans to be granted the same respect and freedom of travel as provided to over 2,000 Leeds supporters for the corresponding fixture this season, and we are frustrated that this could not be permitted.
"We consider the event to be routine and manageable and that that the travel and ticket restrictions in place are substantially out of proportion to any perceived risk.
"For the game on Saturday we are frustrated at not being able to support our players in what we consider to be fair numbers and also question the rationale in denying our request to show the fixture via beam-back at Cardiff City Stadium."
Leeds said they were "disappointed" with the outcome but hope to come to an agreement for next season's fixture.
A statement read: "Late on Wednesday April 8 Cardiff City notified Leeds United that they did not wish to take up the second offer of 500 tickets unescorted, and that no supporters would travel to Leeds for the Championship fixture at Elland Road.
"Leeds United have consulted with West Yorkshire Police and The Football League regarding this matter and Leeds United will continue to work with Cardiff City to try and reach a mutually agreeable solution for next season's fixtures, both at Elland Road and at the Cardiff City Stadium."
