RELEGATION-haunted Town faced a Football League points deduction if next month’s game against Hull City was not screened live by Sky.
The Examiner can today reveal the background to a tickets row which has left fans seething.
Under the Sky TV contract all clubs must host at least one live game per season.
But Town were at risk of breaching that because of a hardline stance on costs taken by West Yorkshire Police.
The force had already refused permission for Sky to screen the home games against Leeds United and Cardiff City.
Senior officers also planned to block the Hull game on March 30, which could have meant Town becoming the first club to breach the Football League’s contract with the pay TV giant.
That would have exposed the club to various sanctions including a loss of vital league points.
The Examiner can reveal how Town officials were summoned to a meeting at the Football League HQ in Preston and warned of the implications of the Hull kick-off not being switched to 5.20pm for Sky.
That led to the club pleading with police to let the game go ahead.
Senior officers agreed but imposed strict conditions. These included issuing just 1,500 tickets to away fans and banning independent travel, forcing them to use official coaches only.
Both Town and Hull fans attacked the decision, which could now lead to a legal challenge backed by the Football Supporters’ Federation.
Town chief executive, Nigel Clibbens, told how the club was approached by the Football League in January to say the Hull game had been chosen by Sky.
Mr Clibbens said: “We contacted West Yorkshire Police to inform them as usual but they requested a meeting and subsequently two days later they informed us they would not sanction the change in kick-off time due to their risk assessment and the additional financial burden this would place on them.”
Town informed the Football League of the decision and were called to Preston.
“At the meeting we were told that Huddersfield Town has a contractual obligation as a member of the League to facilitate Sky TV games under the Football League contract,” said Mr Clibbens.
“If we couldn’t fulfil this, we could be subject to sanctions including a possible points deduction.
