Leeds United manager Daniel Farke was furious at west ham 90-97 extra minutes fans’ chant, revealing it was too loud and it was stolen from Newcastle United fans

Following Leeds United’s dramatic FA Cup quarter-final victory over West Ham at the London Stadium, manager Daniel Farke delivered a surprising and stinging critique of his own traveling supporters. Despite the ecstasy of a penalty shootout win that booked Leeds their first semi-final spot in nearly 40 years, the German tactician was visibly incensed by a specific chant that echoed through the stadium during the final minutes of extra time.

The match itself was a grueling affair, ending 2-2 after 120 minutes of high-intensity football. However, between the 90th and 97th minutes of the extended period, the Leeds away end erupted into a deafening, repetitive roar. While most managers crave such atmosphere, Farke revealed in his post-match press conference that the volume reached a level he found “disrespectful” and “counter-productive” to his players’ focus.

The Source of the Friction

Farke’s primary grievance was two-fold: the sheer decibel level and the origin of the song. He claimed the chant was a direct “theft” from Newcastle United’s fanbase, modified only slightly for the Yorkshire club.

“I have to be honest, I was not happy,” Farke told reporters, his face still flushed from the tension of the shootout. “The support is usually our twelfth man, but for those seven or eight minutes at the end of extra time, it was too much. It was a wall of sound that made it impossible for me to communicate with my defenders. I am shouting instructions for the marking, but no one can hear because of this stolen noise.”

Farke went on to address the lack of “originality” in the chant, which he identified as a signature Newcastle melody recently popularized at St. James’ Park. “We are Leeds United. We have a rich history, our own songs, and our own identity. To take something from Newcastle and scream it so loud that your own manager cannot think? This is not the way. We don’t need to copy others to be loud.”

A “Stolen” Atmosphere?

The chant in question—a rhythmic, bass-heavy anthem—had been a staple for the Magpies throughout their recent European campaigns. Its sudden adoption by the Leeds faithful seemed to strike a nerve with Farke, who prides himself on the unique culture of Elland Road.

Witnesses at the London Stadium noted that the chant was indeed thunderous, drowning out the home West Ham fans entirely as the clock ticked toward penalties. But for Farke, the victory was slightly soured by what he perceived as a loss of Leeds’ vocal individuality. He noted that during the “90-97 minute” window, his players looked “distracted” by the sheer vibration of the away end, rather than being spurred on by it.

Tactical Interference

Beyond the philosophical argument of “stolen” chants, Farke highlighted a practical tactical issue. During the dying embers of extra time, West Ham mounted a final, desperate attack. Farke was seen frantically gesturing on the touchline, attempting to shift his wing-backs into a more defensive posture.

“In the 94th minute, I am trying to tell Junior [Firpo] to tuck in,” Farke explained. “But the fans are so loud with this Newcastle song that he doesn’t even know I am there. It is dangerous. We could have conceded because the stadium was too loud for its own good. There is a difference between supporting and interfering. Today, it was interfering.”

Moving Toward the Semi-Final

Despite the controversy, Leeds United now head to Wembley. The tension between the manager and the supporters is a rare blemish on what has been a resurgent season under Farke. While the fans will likely argue that their energy carried the team through the exhaustion of extra time, Farke’s message is clear: he wants the Elland Road roar to be authentic, original, and—crucially—quiet enough for him to do his job.

As the Whites prepare for their trip to the national stadium, the debate over “terrace originality” is set to continue. Farke concluded his remarks with a challenge to the fanbase: “Go to Wembley, be the loudest in the world, but be Leeds. Don’t be a copy of Newcastle. Give us ‘Marching On Together’ and let me hear my own voice.”