The Met Police will be on alert with Manchester United, Manchester City and Leeds all playing at Wembley across a 24-hour period later this month. Leeds will contest the Championship play-off final on Sunday, May 26, the day after the FA Cup final.
A convincing 4-0 thumping of Norwich in the semi-final booked Leeds’ ticket for a Wembley final and gave them the shot at an immediate return to the Premier League. The Whites will play either Southampton or West Brom.
Leeds fans will be in the Wembley area at the same time as supporters of arch-rivals United.
A boom in pubs, restaurants and bars in the area has prompted fans to prolong their stays if their team is playing at Wembley. Some Leeds fans may travel down to London on the Friday or Saturday night, mixing with United supporters who may choose to spend the weekend in London.
According to the Daily Mail, police are on ‘red alert’ over the situation and safety meetings have already discussed how to deal with the scenario of Leeds and United fans being in London at the same time.
Leeds and United fans share one of their fiercest rivalries in English football. Police described an incident involving both sets of supporters as “large-scale disorder” ahead of a Premier League match between the two teams in 2021.
The report adds that extra police are likely to be drafted in. That United are playing local rivals City, another potentially heated affair, adds an extra layer of complexity for the Met Police.
EFL bosses were reportedly keen for the Championship play-off final to have a later slot than its scheduled 3pm kick-off time. They supposedly believe that viewing figures are greater later in the day. United’s FA Cup final showdown with City will begin exactly 24 hours prior.
Leeds stormed into the play-off final with a crushing triumph over a lacklustre Norwich side. Ilia Gruev caught out Angus Gunn with a long-range free-kick early on, before Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter made the game all but safe before half-time.
Crysencio Summerville, a target for several Premier League clubs should Leeds fail to win promotion, added a fourth midway through the second half. Daniel Farke’s side will learn their play-off final opponents when Southampton face West Brom on Friday, with both teams enduring a goalless first leg.
