Reading match abandoned as fans occupy pitch in protest against owner
Reading’s League One match with Port Vale was halted after 16 minutes, and subsequently abandoned, when around 1,000 home fans invaded the pitch to protest against the ownership of Dai Yongge.
The game had already been held up earlier for three minutes when tennis balls were thrown on to the playing surface at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The referee, Ross Joyce, took the players into the dressing rooms as supporters milled around the pitch, some letting off blue flares. After approaching the Vale fans, some of whom applauded them, most fans started to leave the pitch, but many returned to stage a sit-in in the centre circle.
Football has an ownership problem#ReadingFC has a Dai Yongge problem#SellBeforeWeDai pic.twitter.com/f7BgOCKlbi
— Sell Before We Dai (@SellBeforeWeDai) January 13, 2024
In December fans had protested outside the Houses of Parliament against Yongge, whose ownership has involved the club suffering a series of points deductions – totalling 16 since November 2021 – imposed by the EFL over financial issues.
As fans continued to occupy the pitch the club made two announcements over the PA system stating that once the fans had returned to the stands, the game could resume.
Port Vale fans began to grow tired of the protests, chanting that those on the pitch had “made their point” and should leave. A further announcement said that, unless the pitch was cleared, the match would be abandoned, risking another possible points deduction.
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As the delay extended beyond 30 minutes some Reading fans who had remained in the stands began to boo those on the pitch, while visiting fans began to chant: “We want our money back”.
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There remained a tight cordon of stewards around the entrance to the players’ tunnel, with the players having remained in the dressing room throughout. The abandonment was confirmed at 4.25pm after talks between officials from both clubs and the EFL.
“Every effort was made to restart the game but it became increasingly obvious that this would not be possible,” said an EFL spokesperson. “We will now discuss the implications of this afternoon’s events with the clubs involved.”