Premier League Club to Ban Parents of Children Who Run Onto the Pitch

• Leeds United has threatened one-year bans for parents of youngsters who run onto the pitch to interact with players
• These interactions might have a 'feel-good' factor about them, but the club has pointed to the potential criminal aspects of them as well as Covid-19 protocols
• South African football fans will be reminded of the famous moment a boy ran onto the pitch after a Bafana-Brazil match at Soccer City

Leeds United has stated that it will hand out one-year bans to the parents of children who run onto the pitch to greet or ask for the shirts of players.

Premier League fans have seen youngsters do this in recent times with an overwhelmingly positive response to their actions. However, it appears that the Yorkshire-based club is over the feel-good factor of the moments.

According to BBC Sport, a United media statement revealed that this is in fact a criminal offence.

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It read:

"We will have a zero-tolerance approach to those invading the pitch and those putting players at risk, with football banning orders issued to any supporters identified.

"The recent trend with incidents have included young supporters being sent on to the pitch and this will not be tolerated whether it is before, during or after a game. In these cases, the parents or guardians of the juniors in question will be given a one-year ban from matches."

As reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post, the actions of the fans also breach the Covid-19 protocols in place at the club's Elland Road home ground.

This will remind South Africans of the heartwarming moment when a seven-year-old boy ran onto the pitch to greet his hero Neymar after a Bafana Bafana vs Brazil match. Occurring in 2014 at Soccer City, the child was turned away by security as reported on Goal.

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Though Brazil hammered South Africa 5-0, this was highly unpopular with supporters inside the stadium, who booed the security. Reading the room well, Neymar and his teammates intervened, embracing the boy and also taking photos with him.

Newcastle United announces the signing of Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid

Newcastle United has announced the signing of Kieran Trippier from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.

Having spent almost three years in La Liga, Tripper's transfer fee was not revealed by the cash-flush Toons.

Having played for Tottenham and loan spell at Burnley, Kieran Trippier is not a stranger to the Premier League and will want to shine on his return to the English top-flight.