Police get tough on fans as Leeds face Spurs at Elland Road

Hundreds of officers will be on patrol in Elland Road and Leeds city centre, during the afternoon through to the late evening as part of a large-scale operation.

Match Commander Chief Supt Mark Milsom said: "This is Leeds United's biggest home fixture of the season so far and we all know the stakes are raised because there must be a winner on the night, but our priority is to ensure that everyone involved can enjoy the match safely.

"By intervening early and dealing with issues in a positive manner we aim to quell any problems before they have the chance to escalate, and ensure that the match result is the only talking point afterwards."

In recent years West Yorkshire Police's Football Intelligence Unit has secured a total of 169 Football Banning Orders against Leeds United supporters - more than any club in the country.

As part of the policing operation for the match, officers will be keeping an eye out for anyone - Leeds or Tottenham - who becomes involved in disorder to secure similar injunctions against them.

Should anyone receive a Football Banning Order within the next five months, they risk being banned from attending not only local matches but also the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

Chief Supt Milsom said: "We pursue Football Banning Orders vigorously to prevent the minority from spoiling things for the vast majority of fans who have no intention other than to cheer their team on and enjoy the match.

"We're particularly keen to keep the pressure on this minority of so-called supporters in the run-up to the World Cup so they don't get an opportunity to ruin things this summer.

"Anyone who becomes involved in disorder at this fixture, or any other in West Yorkshire, is likely to be the subject of a Football Banning Order and miss out on the chance to go to the World Cup before the players know whether they are going or not."