Leeds United, in the English second division, will make sure, after having discovered a portrait of Osama bin Laden among the cardboard effigies of supporters placed in its stands, “that no other offensive image” would be installed in its stadium.
The former head of Al-Qaeda, killed in 2011 during an American raid, was one of 15,000 portraits sent by fans for the last five home matches in Leeds, at a unit cost of 25 pounds sterling (27 euros ).
Someone put a portrait of Bin Laden in the stands of the Leeds United stadium! ud83d ude2d ud83d ude2d ud83d ude2d pic.twitter.com/VO0Cr0rBDq
– Instant Foot? Ud83c udffb? Ud83c udfff (@lnstantFoot) June 24, 2020
Cardboard portraits of controversial figures have flourished in closed match galleries since the resumption of championships in some countries. In Australia, a cardboard effigy of Dominic Cummings, controversial advisor to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, appeared in the stands of a rugby league match.
Leeds, currently second in the Championship (English D2) under the leadership of Marcelo Bielsa, will play a top match against Fulham (3rd) on Saturday at his Elland Road stadium, decisive for a possible return to the Premier League after 16 years of absence.
— to www.lindependant.fr