While there is a yawning emptiness on the bleachers in Germany in June 2020, the former founder of the terrorist organization al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden, is sitting unabashedly in the stadium of the English second division club and aspirant for promotion Leeds United. It sounds like it is a rather poor story from the US TV series X ‑ Factor with Jonathan Frakes, but it really happened. Of course, this was not the real terrorist leader, who was shot in 2011 by a US special command, but a cardboard display with bin Laden’s portrait.
Similar to Borussia Mönchengladbach, the fans of the Peacocks can have such a cardboard display placed with their face on Elland Road for a sum of 25 pounds, so that the stadium does not look too dreary during the television broadcast. A prank cookie apparently had the macabre idea to commission a picture of the man who was instrumental in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. No one at the club staff noticed who the man on one of the 15,000 display stands was. Even more: Bin Laden even got a place of honor in the front row.
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The fact that bin Laden was placed in the front row of all places and was therefore clearly visible made the scandal perfect: on Twitter, the photo of bin Laden sitting in the stands spread like wildfire. The once most wanted man in the world hadn’t discovered a club employee, but bin Laden, well, seated neighbor. He took the matter with humor, but would have probably saved himself the fright for the 25 pounds paid.
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The action was an own goal – both by the club and by the person looking after it „Fun ”allowed. The club removed bin Laden from the stadium and resigned from the BBC also to pay closer attention to who in the stadium in the future „Takes a seat ”.
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