Leeds United have condemned 'completely unacceptable online abuse' directed against Patrick Bamford in the aftermath of the draw with Newcastle United. The striker saw a first-half penalty saved in the 2-2 draw with the Magpies, with the result leaving the Whites a point adrift of safety.
The incident-packed clash at Elland Road was initially overshadowed by a supporter's ugly confrontation with Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe in the dugout. The fan has been subsequently charged following his arrest, with the club issuing a lifetime ban as a result.
Now, the Whites have been moved to address abuse directed against Bamford, insisting the 'time for this behaviour to stop is now'. A statement released on Sunday afternoon stressed those guilty of targeting the number nine online are 'not welcome' at Elland Road.
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The statement reads: "Overnight Patrick Bamford and his family have received completely unacceptable online abuse including several threats via Twitter. The time for this behaviour to stop is now.
"Those making threats do not reflect our fan base and are not welcome at our club. We would like to thank all those supporters who have reached out to Patrick and his family to show their support."
Leeds Live has seen a significant number of social media posts with death threats against Bamford, posts which will not be shown here. The level of abuse, which has been both targeted at and seen by Bamford and his family, has been such the club had no option but to call for an immediate stop.
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