Burges Salmon sports partner Mark Gay has advised Leeds United Football Club on a successful High Court challenge over policing costs charged by West Yorkshire Police.

The case saw Leeds United dispute the basis upon which West Yorkshire Police had charged the club for match-day policing outside of its Elland Road stadium.

West Yorkshire Police argued that they were entitled to levy charges on the club based on an extended footprint of land around the stadium, including policing on the public highway and on publicly accessible land.

Gay led the firm's team advising on the test case that included associates Chris Davies and Georgina Shaw, with Michael Beloff QC of Blackstone Chambers instructed as counsel.

West Yorkshire Police were represented by John Beggs QC and James Berry of 3 Sergeants' Inn. Lawyer Alison Walker provided in-house support. 

In ruling in favour of Leeds United, Mr Justice Eady said that policing on the public highway and on public land fell within "the normal constabulary duty to keep the peace", and therefore, the costs of such policing were not recoverable from Leeds United by West Yorkshire Police.

West Yorkshire Police will now refund Leeds United around £1m for the contested costs the club had incurred over the last three seasons.

Commenting on the decision, Gay said: "This was a very important case which has determined that police can only charge for land leased or owned by the club. The verdict clarifies a very important issue and is a development of existing case law."

The judgment is set to have implications for other clubs who have been charged on a footprint basis, with the expectation that many will now review their policing arrangements.