To:
The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Cc:
Aleksander Čeferin, President, UEFA
Bernd Neuendorf, President, German Football Association (DFB)
Leeds United Football Club Board
British Embassy Berlin
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Subject: A Formal and Urgent Appeal on Behalf of Leeds United Supporters Concerning German Restrictions on Pre-Season Attendance
Dear Secretary Nandy,
I am writing this letter out of deep concern and growing frustration shared by thousands of supporters of Leeds United Football Club regarding the severe and unexplained restrictions placed by German authorities on fan attendance at our club’s upcoming pre-season training camp. The reversal of permission for fans to attend these fixtures — compounded by the prohibition of live streaming and live updates — has left the club’s supporters feeling disregarded, misled, and financially exposed.
This development is more than a logistical hiccup; it is a reflection of how football governance and international coordination have begun to lose touch with the very heartbeat of the sport — its fans. As the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, I believe your intervention is now essential, both to protect supporters’ rights and to uphold the values that British football exports globally.
Background and Timeline of Events
Earlier in 2025, Leeds United Football Club received formal written assurances from the German Football Association (DFB) indicating that pre-season matches held in Germany would be permitted to take place with spectator attendance. Based on this communication, fans began to make arrangements — many booking flights, trains, and accommodation at significant personal cost, and in many cases with limited or no ability to secure refunds.
These plans were made in good faith. They were made with trust in the statements of both the club and the DFB. The opportunity to travel abroad and watch Leeds United play is a cherished experience for many of us, often forming the centrepiece of our summer.
However, just weeks before the scheduled matches — and with many fans having already incurred substantial expenses — Leeds United issued a statement informing supporters that German police and local authorities had rescinded the permit to host matches in front of fans, would prohibit streaming or updates, and had requested that the club actively discourage supporters from travelling. This is the second consecutive year that this has happened, with 2024’s decision being attributed to the demands of policing in the lead-up to Euro 2024. Yet now, with that tournament concluded, the same rationale does not apply — and no new justification has been clearly provided.
The Impact on Supporters: Emotional, Financial, Cultural
This decision is not an inconvenience — it is a serious blow to the trust and dignity of the supporter community. The financial impact on fans is measurable and, in many cases, significant. Booked holidays, non-refundable accommodation, car hire, and insurance fees have all been lost. For families who saved all year for the chance to attend, the emotional fallout is equally real. Leeds United supporters are among the most committed in the country, with fans of all ages and backgrounds who travel across Europe to support their club.
Moreover, these trips are not just about watching a match — they are about international friendship, cultural exchange, and community. Pre-season tours offer a rare opportunity to see the club in an intimate setting, where players, staff, and supporters come together in a spirit of unity. The experience of following one’s team abroad is a powerful expression of identity, belonging, and heritage.
To strip fans of this opportunity without a clear reason or effort to communicate transparently is deeply disrespectful.
Lack of Transparency and Accountability
The most disturbing aspect of this development is not just the reversal itself — it is the total lack of public explanation from German authorities. If there are legitimate security concerns, these must be communicated openly and respectfully. If the issue is logistical, Leeds United should have been notified months ago. Instead, fans have been left in the dark, treated like an afterthought in a decision-making process to which we are apparently irrelevant.
The ban on live streaming and updates raises even more serious concerns. This suggests an intentional attempt to silence visibility of the pre-season camp altogether. It sends the message that supporters are not welcome — not in person, not online, and not even as passive observers.
This decision contradicts both the spirit and letter of UEFA’s public commitments to fan rights, and undermines the trust between national federations and clubs. It casts doubt on whether such pre-season arrangements can be considered viable moving forward.
An Issue That Transcends One Club
This is not just about Leeds United. If allowed to stand, this case could set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of travelling fans across Europe. We have already seen a growing number of clubs opting for “behind closed doors” matches — not for safety, but for convenience. This strips the game of its soul. Football is not just a product to be sold on television — it is a communal act, a ritual of loyalty and identity, and fans are its most important stewards.
Pre-season fixtures — once an opportunity for families and grassroots supporters to experience football without the intensity of league pressure — are fast becoming corporate, closed, and exclusionary. This development in Germany is a sharp warning that the erosion of supporter access is accelerating, and it must be challenged now.
What We Are Asking
In light of the above, I respectfully urge you and your office to:
- Open Formal Dialogue with the German Government
Request a full explanation for the permit denial and urge reconsideration of the restrictions. Ask that Leeds United be allowed to proceed with matches that are open to supporters, or at least a portion of them.
- Support UEFA Oversight and Transparency
Call on UEFA to conduct a formal inquiry into the reversal of the DFB’s earlier assurances. Fans across Europe deserve clear standards and fair treatment, and UEFA must uphold these.
- Encourage Leeds United to Reassess Future Tours
Instruct the club — and others — to prioritise destinations where fan inclusion is not only permitted, but embraced. There are many regions in Europe and beyond where football’s traditions are still honoured with respect and openness.
- Provide Support for Affected Fans
Work with consumer protection bodies to examine avenues for financial recourse for fans who have been left out of pocket. While this may be complex, at the very least, discussions about insurance coverage for future fan travel should be supported at the governmental level.
- Push for a Europe-Wide Protocol
Help initiate a UEFA-affiliated agreement among national federations that guarantees transparency and clarity for travelling fans, especially for friendly or pre-season fixtures. Clubs and supporters alike need certainty, and ambiguity breeds conflict.
In Conclusion
This letter may be long, but the issue is too important to summarise in soundbites. At a time when the connection between clubs and fans is under threat from commercialisation, policing tactics, and media centralisation, we must defend the rights of the supporters — not just in theory, but in practice.
Leeds United fans do not seek special treatment. We simply want to be treated fairly, transparently, and with the respect we have earned through decades of loyalty and love for our club. The fact that we are even having to ask for the right to watch a football match is emblematic of how distorted the game has become.
I hope that you will lend your voice — and your office — to this cause, and ensure that football remains a sport of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Thank you for reading this letter and for your commitment to culture, sport, and public accountability.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
Lifelong Leeds United Supporter
[Optional: Supporters’ Club Membership / Social Media / Fan Group Affiliation]