The Alan Fawcett story got me thinking this week.

Mr Fawcett is better known as "Yellow Peril". Up until the beginning of this season, he had not missed a home-match since 1978. He always wore a distinctive yellow jumper with lots of Leeds badges stitched in it. Mr Fawcett also has arthritis. He used to be able to get a season-ticket in the Disabled Enclosure at Leeds and a free one for his wife, who acted as his carer.

However Leeds United changed the rules on carers/helpers in the summer. Previously they would accept a blue-parking badge as proof for a carer to gain free access to the stadium. Now it is dependant on what rate of Disability Living Allowance the disabled fan gets.

Disability Living Allowance or DLA is paid at a lower, middle or higher rate of care dependent on how much assistance a person needs. I understand that Leeds will now only let a carer in for free if the customer gets middle or higher rate DLA care component. That is the rate that a carer can also claim Carers Allowance for looking after that person, subject to certain critieria of course.

Naturally any story which hints at the percecution of a extremely disadvantaged group such as the disabled will be emotive and inevitably provoke an outcry. However I think Leeds are spot on with their treatment of Mr Fawcett and I understand they have adapted the same policy as all the other Football League clubs.

It makes sense really doesn't it? If somebody has been assessed by the law to need a carer, then Leeds should admit one for free. If the person does not need a carer then why should they get a free seat to bring somebody along?

I was disappointed with some of the media coverage regarding "Yellow Peril" - I appreciate Ken Bates is not the most PC compassionate of souls but the headlines had visions of him banishing Disabled people in a similar fashion to what his former Chelsea employee Glenn Hoddle infamously did.

If Mr Fawcett's condition is getting progressively worse, then he should notify the Department for Works and Pensions immediately and get his DLA re-assessed as is his legal right.

For more information on benefits, visit www.direct.gov.uk

Disability is a topical subject in Leeds at the moment and dear Uncle Ken's programme notes last Saturday made reference to a clampdown by the City Council on abuse of blue badges. The Council believe a staggering £500,000 in revenue is being lost due to "Blue Badge Cheats" persons who are fraudently using badges to park for free.

As well as the cost to the taxpayer, one should also consider the inconvenience to genuine badge-users who often cannot park due to the spaces being occupied by fraudsters who are simply too-mean to pay for parking.

Ken also bemoaned the 20 Disabled Bays on Lowfields Road which staggeringly he claims are unused on match-days. Apparently they have been there since Euro 96 and one of his Security Guards received a ticket for parking in one, apparently looking for Gypsies at half ten at night! I am amazed he thinks that no-one makes use of them, if so then maybe they should make way for a retail outlet or two!

Photo: Action Images via Reuters