“This club is and will forever be Leeds United Football Club. It’s not going to be the Leeds Red Bulls,” insisted chairman Paraag Marathe when news that the energy drinks giant were taking a minority shareholding in the 105-year-old institution as well as having their logo on the shirts broke.
These things matter. It is why the Conservatives promised us nearly five years ago a football regulator partly to protect club’s identities. Unfortunately, five years has not been enough. The Labour Government-in-waiting say they are committed too but even the most one-eyed football fan would hopefully recognise their in-tray will be pretty full.
Names are not the main concern. Even by the low bar of football chairman stupidity, signing off RB Leeds or a Red Bull red kit would be one of the crassest ways to leave a club.
