A petition has been launched this week as an MP joins fans urging for an inquiry to be held into Reading’s absent owner.
Yuan Yang, the recently elected Labour MP for Earley and Woodley, has joined forces with Reading Football Club supporters to demand a parliamentary inquiry into the club’s ownership.
The initiative, backed by fan groups like Sell Before We Dai and the Supporters’ Trust at Reading (STAR), aims to address the ongoing issues with the absent owners, particularly Dai Yongge.
Fans are frustrated with the ownership’s lack of engagement, financial mismanagement, and the resulting decline of the club.
A petition launched by these groups has already gathered over 2,000 signatures, with plans to collect more before Reading’s League One fixture against Birmingham on Saturday.
Yang has expressed solidarity with the fans, emphasising the need for football clubs to be recognised as vital community assets rather than just financial playthings, and hopes an inquiry could lead to stronger protections for clubs across the UK.
SIGN THE PETITION: https://t.co/KNhzelYJjZ
I’m glad that supporters groups @SellBeforeWeDai and @STARReading have joined me in calling for a parliamentary inquiry into #readingfc‘s absent owner, Dai Yongge. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/vnCzTwji0a
— Yuan Yang (@YuanfenYang) February 21, 2025
The petition, which can be signed HERE, reads: “Football has an ownership problem.
“Since 2012, Reading Football Club has been through multiple owners and, in the last five years alone, has slid towards insolvency under the ownership of Mr Dai Yongge and Ms Dai Xiu Li. Staff have been paid late, multiple winding-up petitions have been issued by HMRC and staff have been forced to endure redundancies and late wage payments on multiple occasions.
“With no end in sight, Reading FC risks becoming the latest example of a historic, community-centred club destroyed by fickle owners who cannot be held to account. This has to change, now.
“Reading FC isn’t the only club that has suffered at the hands of poor, absent owners – dozens of other clubs across England and Wales are currently in trouble. The Government’s Football Governance Bill will help clubs in future, but clubs in peril now need answers.
“An inquiry into how Reading deteriorated in this way will not only identify those responsible, but also provide valuable insights into poor governance for the new Independent Football Regulator. Other fans should not have to go through the same turmoil.
“We are calling for the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and the Business and Trade Select Committee to launch an inquiry into the ownership and governance affairs of Reading Football Club since 29 May 2012 on grounds of public interest, with a particular focus on the governance of Reading Football Club since May 2017.”
Yuan Yang (@YuanfenYang) tweeted: “SIGN THE PETITION: http://bit.ly/rfc-petition
“I’m glad that supporters groups @SellBeforeWeDai and @STARReading have joined me in calling for a parliamentary inquiry into #readingfc’s absent owner, Dai Yongge.
“The club has slid towards insolvency under the ownership of Mr Dai Yongge and Ms Dai Xiu Li. Staff have been paid late, multiple winding-up petitions have been issued by HMRC, and staff have been forced to endure redundancies and late wage payments on multiple occasions.
“An inquiry into how Reading deteriorated in this way will not only identify those responsible, but also provide valuable insights into poor governance for the new Independent Football Regulator. Other fans should not have to go through the same turmoil.
“We are calling for the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and the Business and Trade Select Committee to launch an inquiry into the ownership and governance affairs of Reading Football.”
Earlier this month, she tweeted: “On Tuesday I spoke to the @CommonsBBCom about the governance and financial sustainability of football.
“I’m glad the Committee has now allocated time to debate this issue on Thursday 6th March, where I will make the case for robust action to the Minister.
“As fans of Reading FC we know the impact financial and governance issues can have all too well.
“We need a national conversation about these topics, and I am pleased that MPs from different parties and across the country signed in support of our debate.”
On Tuesday I spoke to the @CommonsBBCom about the governance and financial sustainability of football.
I’m glad the Committee has now allocated time to debate this issue on Thursday 6th March, where I will make the case for robust action to the Minister. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/1pXisoBLuh
— Yuan Yang (@YuanfenYang) February 6, 2025
“It’s heartbreaking!” 💔
Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist discuss the current situation at Reading, after they sold Sam Smith to Wrexham! pic.twitter.com/syuFrLErxV
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 3, 2025
Twitter users reacted after a petition is launched as an MP joins fans urging for an inquiry to be held into Reading’s absent owner…
@tommyrfc: Reading FC have gone from being the model of a well run club to be on the verge of disappearing. All in the space of 15 years. If it can happen to us, it can happen to you. Please sign
@mrblthomas: Sign the thing! Well done to all the volunteers involved. If you see them around the ground tomorrow, please sign #readingfc
@Huntyroyal: It does not matter which team you support this destruction of our club has gone on far too long 😡 please sign the petition ⏬ #readingfc #SellBeforeWeDai
@longlaneroyal: Signed ✅ Without being political I’m not sure Starmer will be concerned at the possible extinction of #readingfc as he sits scoffing his hors d’oeuvres in his executive box at Arsenal. As Dai’s right hand man & our ‘saviour’ are we turning the heat up enough on Nigel Howe? 🌭
@TalkingRoyals: It does not matter which team you support this is a bigger issue than just football ⚽️ please sign the petition below ⏬ thank you #SellBeforeWeDai #readingfc
@SimonPovey1970_: Please sign the petition guys, last chance saloon getting closer everyday….. #Readingfc
@gavpsmith: get the petition to all games this weekend and next and get as many football fans to sign it as possible. at the moment it’s us but this could happen to any club in any league at any time. all clubs need protecting from this sort of behaviour and ownership now and in the future
@SpotlessMurty: And who wouldn’t want to get behind such a thing? Get on it. #readingfc
@Reading106: Firstly – Absolutely right that anyone responsible is identified held accountable and something is in place to prevent this happening again. Secondly – this feels like it’s at a point of accepting there’s nothing that can be done to get DY out now #Readingfc
@SimFromBucks: this issue is waaay bigger than #ReadingFC. we’d all really appreciate shares on this petition (and signatures too!) from non-Reading fans 💙
@TheTilehurstEnd: This is how we bring about proper, lasting change. Not just for #ReadingFC’s sake, but also to help every other club at risk of falling into a similar situation. The more signatures the merrier, whether you’re a Royals fans or supporter of any other club. Thank you! 💙
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