Reading fans' group will not repeat pitch protest

"We urge fans not to try to get the Derby match abandoned. We do not want to throw away all we've achieved over the past week. We received overwhelming backing from across the football community - we may lose that support if there is another pitch invasion in the short term."

A Reading supporters’ group claims it is “not the right time” for another on-field protest after their last home game was abandoned.

A large number of fans invaded the pitch during a match against Port Vale on 13 January in protest at owner Dai Yongge’s running of the club.

In three seasons, Reading have gone from the Championship to the foot of League One, had 16 points deducted, and had transfer embargoes applied as the club failed to fulfil financial commitments.

However, protest group Sell Before We Dai want no repeat as they host Derby County in League One on Tuesday evening.

A statement from the group read: “Fed up of being lied to and seeing their club slowly die, fans felt they were left with no other option than to run on to the pitch and force the [Port Vale] game to be abandoned.”

That pitch invasion was described as a “desperate attempt to bring attention to our plight” and pressure the owner into “doing the right thing” and sell the club immediately.

The group added: “We do not know yet what the punishment will be from the EFL in response to the action. We need to come together as a football community and consider our next actions very carefully.

“We urge fans not to try to get the Derby match abandoned. We do not want to throw away all we’ve achieved over the past week. We received overwhelming backing from across the football community – we may lose that support if there is another pitch invasion in the short term.”

Further protests outside Yongge’s London home have been mooted and the statement added: “No action is off the table, at least in the long term. Fans have shown they will do whatever it takes to force this regime out of our club.”

Original article published 22.01.2024 on the BBC Sport website.

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