City fans will stand united with the Foxes this weekend
... but fans at the CCS will be united following the King Power tragedy
CARDIFF City face Leicester City tomorrow afternoon, likely in front of a crowd of around 30,000 spectators.
All five of their games this season have drawn around that figure, with Fulham last time out marginally the lowest to date at 29,681 and champions Manchester City the highest (32,321).
Whether or not there will be a dip for Leicester may well depend on another sporting event happening just down the road.
Wales play Scotland at the Principality Stadium in an autumn Test that kicks off 15 minutes earlier, so both games will clash.
This has pretty much become an annual issue since Wales started playing a series of internationals every November, but surely it doesn’t have to be like this?
It was bad enough when Cardiff were drawing attendances half of what they are now. As a top-flight side with full houses expected, the city has to contend with a greater influx of people and more traffic on the roads.
The fact the powers-that-be are happy for Cardiff to host two events at the same time – which could well see 100,000 people descend on the city – is a mystery to most fans.
When you factor in the influx of people doing their Christmas shopping in the city centre, it does not strike you as the most sensible of ideas.
In terms of getting in and out of Cardiff on Saturday, it will be chaos. Anyone who has ever queued for a train after an event at the Principality Stadium will have some war stories to share. This week promises to be something else, with Cardiff and Leicester fans getting in on the act along with families loaded with presents.
You would never see Liverpool and Everton play at the same time on the same weekend. A factor in that would be to eliminate the chances of rival fans clashing and while there is no danger of that happening on Saturday, there are also logistical issues.
Many of the stewards who work these events will work at both stadiums, so will be forced to choose one or the other and both venues will feel the strain. Both also require emergency services to be present, so presumably more people will need to be drafted in to cover both.
Why does this keep happening though? Surely compromises can be made and fixtures can be moved to the Friday night or the Sunday? Both would probably also enjoy bigger crowds too. There will be another clash later in the season, when the arrival of Watford clashes with Wales hosting England in the Six Nations, although at least that game kicks off at 4:45. I appreciate there are a lot of organisations with a vested interest in these games and maybe none of them are prepared to budge. The clubs, organisations and TV companies all have different agendas and maybe unwilling to get together and thrash these things out. Maybe they’re all waiting to see who blinks first and no one is blinking.
What I think is safe to assume though is that no one likes that this keeps happening.
There are some football and rugby fans that have an interest in both sports and would probably like to watch both. Everyone else just wants to get home at a reasonable time. That’s not too much to ask is it?
There will be nothing but love and respect for Leicester City and their supporters tomorrow Scott Johnson
The Leicester tragedy will unite both sets of fans
IT feels a little bit grubby writing about frivolous football matters at a time like this. It all pales into insignificance in light of what Leicester City Football Club, their supporters and the city as a whole have been through in the past week.
It’s at times like this that you realise just how fragile things are. First and foremost, how fragile life is and how we should always appreciate what we have and those around us. Also how fragile sporting success is and how you should cherish it while it lasts because you never know what’s just around the corner.
Times like these are when the football community must put petty rivalries to one side and unite in a show of strength. To support one another in the same way that we support our respective teams every week.
Leicester have lost an owner, a figurehead and respected custodian of their football club. Someone who has overseen a period of unprecedented success, who has helmed the club with class, gained love and respect.
A lot of the coverage has focused on the tragedy of the situation, the devastating and demoralising effect it will have on the football club, but above and beyond that is the fact that five people lost their lives and my thoughts are with their friends and families at this time.
It is a great honour to write a column on behalf of Cardiff fans and I think I speak for all of them when I say there will be nothing but love and respect for Leicester City and their supporters tomorrow.
Football is ordinarily the main event, but this week it may be nothing more than some much-needed escapism.
I hope the game acts as a cathartic release for Leicester players, supporters and officials, for 90 minutes at least.