A ticketing dispute has thrown the Super League playoffs into turmoil, as Leigh Leopards’ owner, Derek Beaumont, threatened to pull his side out of their semi-final clash against Wigan on Friday. The row centers around the number of tickets allocated to Leigh’s supporters, with the club now uncertain of their participation in the crucial match that could see them progress to the grand final.
Leigh Leopards were set to face off against Wigan at the Brick Community Stadium, with the winners earning a spot in the prestigious grand final at Old Trafford the following week. However, Beaumont expressed his dissatisfaction with the ticket allocation process, claiming that his team would not travel to face their local rivals unless a more favorable arrangement was made.
The dispute arose after Wigan offered Leigh up to 5,400 tickets for the semi-final, more than 25% of the stadium’s capacity, which is far higher than the typical 10% allocation usually granted to visiting teams in such fixtures. In response, Wigan defended their position, stating that they had consulted with safety experts and local police before finalizing the number of tickets. Wigan also emphasized that the decision was based on safety protocols and their legal obligation to follow the advice of their ground safety officer.
Despite this, Beaumont remained adamant that the allocation was insufficient, leading him to inform Wigan late on Tuesday that Leigh would not attend the semi-final unless the issue was resolved. This has left the Super League organizers scrambling to find a solution ahead of Friday’s match. The Rugby Football League and Rugby League Commercial have not yet issued an official comment, though talks were expected to take place on Wednesday to resolve the matter.
If Leigh proceeds with their threat to pull out, Wigan could be handed an unprecedented bye to the grand final, a scenario that would bring significant embarrassment to the sport. The standoff is not only disrupting the playoff schedule but also creating an atmosphere of uncertainty just days before one of the most crucial matches of the season.
As the situation develops, fans and stakeholders alike will be watching closely, hoping that an amicable resolution can be reached to ensure the playoff fixture goes ahead as planned. The outcome will have major implications not only for the teams involved but also for the integrity of the Super League playoffs as a whole.
