Reading fans stage extraordinary mass PITCH INVASION to protest against owner Dai Yongge, as stricken club plead with supporters to leave or they will ‘face serious sanctions’
- Reading fans stormed the pitch in the 16th minute of the League One match
- The protest was over the 16 points deducted by the Royals under Dai
- Young Man United fans sing songs about players who didn’t even play in their lifetime. Some of them have no heroes. It’s damn – It all starts
Reading’s League One match against Port Vale has been abandoned after supporters staged a mass pitch invasion to protest against club owner Dai Yongge.
The pitch invasion took place in the 16th minute of the match, with the scoreline being goalless – with the time highlighting the 16 points deducted by the Royals under Dai’s ownership.
Images from the stands show hundreds of fans running onto the field after previously throwing tennis balls onto the field.
Reading repeatedly begged their supporters to leave the pitch before being conceded but acknowledged their frustrations.
‘We are fully aware of the frustrations of our supporters, but we must reiterate to our supporters that entering or throwing objects onto the pitch may result in the match being abandoned and may result in personal consequences, including a ban,” a statement said. . “Thank you for your support today.”
Reading’s match against Port Vale was abandoned after an hour-long pitch invasion
Supporters invaded the pitch in the 16th minute to protest the club’s ownership
In a subsequent update, the club said there was a ‘last chance’ to get the match played.
“Both teams and players want to bring today’s match to a close,” a statement read.
‘This is the last chance to restart the game. If the field is not cleared, the club could face severe sanctions.’
Reading also made two announcements over the PA system, stating that once fans return to the stands the match can resume.
Supporters remained on the pitch for over an hour, before it was confirmed that the match had been abandoned.
The fan group Sell Before We Dai, which wants to push owner Dai to leave the club, emphasized that the action was ‘just the beginning’.
‘We shouldn’t be doing this. We should enjoy the game with friends and family,” the group tweeted.
‘This is just the beginning Dai. We come for you. So do yourself a favor and sell.’
The group also thanked Port Vale supporters for supporting the protest on the pitch.
Reading had made a series of pleas to supporters to leave the pitch before the stoppage
Footage showed the visiting fans applauding the Reading supporters on the pitch.
Port Vale supporters could also be heard chanting ‘Get out of their club’.
Reading currently sit 21st in League One after being hit with a four-point deduction in August.
The EFL deducted the points from the Royals because the club served an injunction against dbefore September 12, deposit an amount equal to 125 percent of their expected monthly wage bill into a designated account.
In total, the club have deducted 16 points from the Berkshire club over the past two years due to their ownership problems, which led to their relegation from the Championship last season.