Jack Harrison came on in the second half for Leeds United and played a role in them winning 1-0 over Everton on Monday night. However, the Elland Road faithful are yet to forgive him, and he was jeered by the fans when he stepped onto the pitch.
The reintegration of Harrison in the Leeds squad this summer has not been popular with the fans. The winger spent the last two seasons on loan at Everton, and only returned to Elland Road as the Toffees had shown no interest in signing him on a permanent deal in the ongoing transfer window.
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A large section of the Leeds fans have not forgiven him for escaping the club once they got relegated from the Premier League in 2023, and showed no desire to help them get back to the top flight in the last two years.
Daniel Farke has defended Harrison and insisted that while he has yet to return to the good books of the fans, the winger has done enough during pre-season to win over his teammates and coaching staff.
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Simon Jordan defends Leeds United fans’ jeering of Jack Harrison
The Leeds fans were quick to jeer the winger when he came on in the second half, and there is now a serious debate about whether it’s right for the fans to boo their own players.
However, Jordan has defended the Leeds fans and believes that while they are being irrational, it is to be expected from the supporters when it comes to Harrison.
He pointed out that Leeds fans have enough reasons to feel aggrieved by the fact that Harrison left the club when they got relegated, when he could have stayed and helped them get back up.
The former Crystal Palace chairman feels it is wrong to demand that football fans be rational when the game is based on their passion and emotional reactions.
“They obviously feel that when he left Leeds in the first instance to join Everton, it suited him better”, Jordan said on talkSPORT.
“Rather than stay with Leeds and help them to get back out of that particular plight, given he was part of the team that got relegated.
“They probably want to visit upon him, that mentality.
“I am not saying they are right or wrong, but the Leeds fans obviously felt that he left in their hour of need, to get an opportunity in the Premier League.
“Now that opportunity is no longer there at Everton, he comes back to Leeds, and they don’t forget.
“You cannot ask football fans to sit there and be emotionally stunted and rational in their thinking when the game is predicated on irrationality.”
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