Leeds United have joined forces with bitter-rivals Manchester United in a bid to get vile chants about Jimmy Savile classed as hate crimes. The Yorkshire club has targeted its own supporters, who have spent years singing about paedophile Savile.

Savile, whose crimes only emerged after he died in 2011, was born in Leeds but had no connection with the club. But Leeds' owners have had enough of the sick chants and asked the footballing authorities and police to classify them as a public order offence.

Leeds have now become part of the Premier League's 'Tragedy Chanting Working Group' in a bid to tackle the problem.

This also includes United, Liverpool and Bradford City, who have all been working closely with Leeds regarding the Savile songs.

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Since 2023 the Crown Prosecution Service has said that "tragedy chanting", such as songs relating to the Munich air crash, Hillsborough disaster or the Bradford fire, could be classed as a hate crime.

Leeds want the Savile chants to be treated in the same way, but fear it could take months for the legislation to be completed.

An initiative was started by former chief executive Angus Kinnear, which involved the club meeting various fans' groups to discuss a problem which has been a serious stain on the club's reputation.

It's understood thousands of fans have spent a long time lobbying the club to take action. Leeds bosses had considered making an appeal on big screens for the Savile songs to stop - but feared this would encourage it to happen even more.

If the Savile chants get classified as a hate crime, those responsible would face criminal proceedings, huge fines and a long ban from Elland Road.

And club bosses would hope improved CCTV installed as part of the upcoming renovation of the stadium, would help them identify those responsible.

A club spokesman said: "The club's supporters are subjected to these sickening chants at every match, which should not be happening in today's game. They are a disgrace to the victims of Jimmy Savile's abuse."

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