The Reading v Burton match was stopped by tennis balls thrown onto the pitch in another protest towards the owners on Saturday.
Days leading up to the game, Royals fans organised another protest for the game, keeping the pressure on owner Dai Yongge to sell.
It comes after the latest statement which confirmed Yongge has failed to pay HMRC on time this month, and concerns grow for the future of the club.
So supporters have been encouraged do the same protest against the Brewers, and as you can see in the video below, the turnout was bigger with the game stopped for 10 minutes.
@RFCSupport wrote after the protest: “A reminder to all supporters that throwing items onto the pitch risks the fixture being abandoned and can lead to personal consequences including banning orders. We are fully aware of and understand our supporters’ frustrations, but we must reiterate that it is unacceptable to throw missiles of any description onto the pitch.”
🎾 For the second time in as many home matches, Reading fans throw tennis balls onto the pitch in protest of owner Dai Yongge. #readingfc pic.twitter.com/UNj0s3ZmcP
— Ji-Min Lee (@JmlJourno) September 30, 2023
#readingfc pic.twitter.com/v4DU2SrPPG
— Dan (@DanCleaver28) September 30, 2023
Players head down the tunnel as the game is paused. #readingfc pic.twitter.com/uLBNVWMgH0
— Ji-Min Lee (@JmlJourno) September 30, 2023
A reminder to all supporters that throwing items onto the pitch risks the fixture being abandoned and can lead to personal consequences including banning orders. We are fully aware of and understand our supporters’ frustrations, but we must reiterate that it is unacceptable to… https://t.co/8gXK9d4ZmC
— Reading FC Supporter Services (@RFCSupport) September 30, 2023
Protest group ‘Sell Before We Dai’ asked supporters before the game to wear black, ‘as a mark of respect for what this great club used to be.’
A statement from the group read: “This club remains in jeopardy. You know the drill: the same as Bolton for the next home game, against Burton Albion on Saturday 30th September.
“Get your tennis balls to hand, 16th minute. If you don’t have tennis balls, get creative, bounce a few ideas around your friends, think of a way to relieve the stress.
“Bring noise and volume against the owner. Stand up for the club and make your voice heard.
“Alongside this, we encourage all fans to wear black, instead of wearing club colours on Saturday, as a mark of respect for what this great club used to be. Before it’s our funeral. ”
Reading are also expected to see a protest march ahead of the game against Portsmouth on the 28th of October, like the one in 1983 going against Robert Maxwell’s plan for a ‘Thames Valley Royals’ which would see Oxford and Reading merge, as per Reading Chronicle.
This is similar to what supporters did in 1983 against Robert Maxwell’s ‘Thames Valley Royals’ plan.
At Reading FC where “Black Saturday” protests against owner Dai Yongge are heavy in the air.
Fans dressed in black.
A banner reads “football has has ownership problem”.
They have a point.@SellBeforeWeDai pic.twitter.com/ylOmIhJtGV
— Terrace Edition (@TerraceEdition) September 30, 2023
— Alex Everson (@Readingfanman) September 30, 2023
Tennis balls stop play.
“We’re all having a party, when Dai Yongge sells the club”.
Reading FC tennis ball action today v Burton.
There’s no game without the backing of the fans.#readingfc pic.twitter.com/Wxgq7ooSKi
— Terrace Edition (@TerraceEdition) September 30, 2023
Reading have been placed under a transfer embargo, and face further points deduction, however with new takeover bids made, according to The Telegraph.
The club find themselves in even more of a financial crisis having been placed under a transfer embargo for failing to pay HMRC on time.
The report state they have missed another deadline for their tax to be paid, with the Royals now to be placed under restrictions by the EFL and are also facing a fourth winding up order.
CLUB STATEMENT (29th Sept 2023):
This is how fans reacted with Reading v Burton match stopped by tennis balls thrown onto the pitch in another protest…
@GeorgePFC96: Sad to see. Too many clubs being fucked over by owners nowadays. Hope they pull through 💙
@B1gB0yGaming: Great efforts with the tennis balls a lot more than last time #readingfc
@sampo1867: this is how’s its done 👏🏼 #swfc could never
@jonreading35: Fuck off with your tannoy announcement!!! #readingfc
@m1871e: Proud of everyone there. All 4 stands joining in with the chants and tennis balls. #readingfc #ReadingFcInBlack
@ronniemac93: Proud of every single one of us today. @SellBeforeWeDai WE WANT DAI OUT #readingfc
@rfctom: Anyone complaining about protests affecting performances is suffering from incredible short-termism. This game is meaningless if Dai stays with any points won wiped out. Protests are getting public and political attention. Y’day’s statement re sale shows their impact. #readingfc
@KivoLee: Reading fans are more willing to fight for their club’s future than Sheffield Wednesday fans. That’s where we are as a fanbase.
@Orrgarde: Might not have a club to protest about soon. @EFL are you listening?!
@HarryLight_: More of this until the cunt is gone #readingfc
@ToonOwls: Keep fighting that fight. Solidarity from #swfc 👊
@ffscraig_: 👏👏👏 hope you get your club back and that clown will be good #DaiOut
@ROldfieldDesign: And we’ve got fans that boo wanting a change of ownership… This is how it’s done #swfc
@Danswfc1867: This is how it’s done #swfc fans! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
@GeoffSWFC: And that’s what it looks like to see a fan base that has had enough and is prepared to take action #swfc
@Huntyroyal: Get Yongge out now we want our club back 💙🤍 #readingfc #SellBeforeWeDai
@randallsroyals: Proud to be a #readingfc fan! 💙🤍💙🤍 #sellbeforewedai
@LFCzon: When it comes to protest, it’s do or Dai I’m afraid
@pott95: I’d rather have a club to support next year thanks. I’m sure the admin would also like to have a job moving forwards.
@Blaa80: We do what we want, we do what we want! Sell before we dai, we do what we want! #SellBeforeWeDai
@Lisa_Howes: It’s unacceptable to keep employees of the club waiting for their wages too! Get this Dai out of this club!
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