- BBC insisted Elland Road chants in drama were based on ‘first-hand accounts’
- This is disputed by Leeds fan leaders, who claim chant in question didn’t happen
- We expected perfection from VAR – we haven’t got it: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off
Furious Leeds United fans want an apology from the BBC for what they claim are damaging and inaccurate scenes in the dramatisation of the Jimmy Savile scandal starring Steve Coogan, which have refuelled victim chanting inside Elland Road.
Clive Miers, chair of the Leeds United Supporters Network, said the chants caused ‘trauma, torment and suffering’ for any survivors of sexual abuse – not just those who suffered at the hands of Savile – had increased since the series was screened this year.
When he contacted the BBC on this point, he was told references to chants inside the stadium were based on ‘first-hand accounts’ and included to illustrate how rumours of Savile’s crimes had been ‘in widespread circulation many years before the truth eventually began to emerge after his death’.
‘This is simply untrue,’ said Miers, noting one scene in particular in which Savile, played by Coogan, was asked by his biographer why Leeds supporters would aim chants at visiting fans that he would abuse them in the morgue.
‘I have been to more than 2,000 games,’ said Miers. ‘We have 46 Leeds supporters’ groups under our umbrella and over 9,000 members and nobody can remember hearing this.
Steve Coogan as Jimmy Savile in the BBC dramatisation The Reckoning – Leeds United fans are demanding an apology from the BBC over what they claim are false chants used in the series
Leeds fans say the inaccurate scenes have refuelled victim chanting at Elland Road
‘The BBC has used football and Leeds United to provide a shortcut to allude to Savile’s necrophilia by inventing an obscene chant.’
Nobody disputes the fact that in the years since his death in 2011, there have been regular chants about Savile aimed at Leeds fans or that the Leeds fans have responded with Savile chants of their own.
‘To create sensationalism with dramatic licence, the BBC have ensured a continuation,’ said Miers.
‘These chants are not terrace banter. They can cause trauma, torment and suffering for survivors of sexual abuse who may be in the ground, and not just those abused by Jimmy Savile.
‘We call on the BBC to apologise to the supporters of Leeds United and the FA in conjunction with the police to take immediate action.’
Miers wrote to the BBC, the FA and the EFL when the drama was aired in September, and was most underwhelmed by the reaction, especially since football authorities had been trumpeting a new initiative to banish tragedy abuse only two months earlier, in July.
‘We commend action taken over racist, homophobic and tragedy chanting,’ said Miers. ‘Should the survivors of sexual abuse not be afford the same protection?
‘There has been no action taken on this by anybody, possibly because it is taboo, possibly because it is seen as terrace jests. There are millions of survivors of sexual abuse and this gives the impression Elland Road or indeed any football ground is not safe for them.’
DJ and television presenter Savile was portrayed by Coogan in the 2023 drama series
Steve Coogan has discussed the weight of responsibility that came with playing the notorious paedophile Jimmy Savile in a new BBC drama
The FA told Mail Sport they strongly condemn offensive chanting inside football stadiums and work closely with the game’s other stakeholders to tackle unacceptable behaviour.
The BBC reiterated the point they made in correspondence with Miers.
‘The line in the drama was included to illustrate how rumours around some of Savile’s behaviour had been in widespread circulation for many years before the truth eventually began to emerge after his death,’ said a spokesperson.
‘The programme-makers drew on first-hand accounts of this chant having been heard at Elland Road.’
