Leeds United face sanctions over Sky Sports TV ban
The Football League has told Leeds they will be charged with misconduct with a "full range of sanctions" available if they continue to prevent tonight's match with Derby being televised.
Press Association Sport understands controversial owner Massimo Cellino has instructed staff to deny Sky Sports' production crew entry to Elland Road for a game which is to be broadcast live on the network.
Staff from Sky Sports were denied entry to Elland Road on Monday as they arrived to set up for the match and, as of Tuesday morning, access had not been granted.
Cellino's stance is in response to the number of times his side have been shown on Sky Sports this season, resulting in a number of kick-off and date changes.
Leeds have been shown live on Sky Sports nine times already this season, with Tuesday's game taking them into double figures, with four of them home games. Two further games are already scheduled for 2016, making Leeds the joint-most covered club in the Championship, along with Derby.
Earlier this season Cellino said he would be capping Leeds' well-known large away support at 2,000 in order to make the point that his club would not be taken for granted, only to reverse the decision after fan dissent.
His latest move has been to deny Sky the right to broadcast, however the League has told Leeds that access must be given to Sky if disciplinary action is to be avoided.
A spokesman said: "Under Football League regulations, clubs are required to provide access to the League's broadcasting partners for the purpose of setting up and filming any matches that are selected for transmission.
"Failure to do so will lead to a club being charged with misconduct with the matter being referred to an independent Football Disciplinary Commission (FDC).
"The FDC has a full range of sanctions at its disposal."
Cellino is no stranger to controversy, with his near-two years in charge of United littered with outbursts.
The 59-year-old sacked manager Brian McDermott without permission on his first day at the club, and has since worked his way through five more managers, while he is currently waiting for an appeal date as he fights a second Football League ban for breaching its Owners' and Directors' test following a tax evasion conviction in Italy.
He will not be present at Elland Road on Tuesday as he is in Miami and has left the enforcement of his ban with other staff.
Sky Sports had no comment to make, with the resolving of the issue falling at the feet of the League and the club.
The League's rules state that broadcasters should be granted access to stadia.
The rules read: "73.2 The League or any subsidiary or associated company of The League or duly authorised agent or broadcaster (and its respective employees and agents) shall be allowed access to the grounds of all Clubs (and to the television gantries, camera positions and facilities) for the purpose of recording or broadcasting matches arranged under the jurisdiction of The League."
Although Sky staff normally access stadia a day in advance, it is understood equipment can be set-up in as little as three hours.