Reading-Port Vale abandoned as protesting home fans refuse to leave pitch

Reading’s Sky Bet League One match with Port Vale was abandoned on Saturday after around 1,000 home fans invaded the pitch to protest against owner Dai Yongge.

The match was halted after 16 minutes, with around 40 of the fans still refusing to leave the pitch some 68 minutes later.

In the gathering gloom, with most of the floodlights switched off, those supporters stood in the centre circle surrounded by stewards before the announcement to call the game off was made at 4.25pm.

Sell Before We Dai, a group calling for a change of ownership at Reading, said “the first fan-led match abandonment in our 152-year history should not be celebrated, but the spontaneous, unfiltered passion, as well as the will and determination of our fans, should be”.

It added in a statement: “We understand that we will be punished by the EFL, but what we really need is help. Today was an outpouring of emotion from a fanbase not known for its hostility. We are scared for the future of our football club and the threat could not be more real.

“We want this to be our last abandoned match, but it is just the start of this elevated protest action.”

The game had been interrupted shortly after kick-off when sections of the home fans threw tennis balls on to the playing surface at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Referee Ross Joyce took the players into the dressing rooms, while the supporters milled around the pitch, some letting off blue flares.

Fans chanted anti-Yongge slogans and unveiled a banner in the centre circle that read “Football has an ownership problem”.

After approaching the Vale fans, some of whom applauded them, most of the home fans started to head back to the stands, but many of them then returned and staged a sit-in in the centre circle.

Despite announcements over the PA system that the game could resume once the fans returned to the stands, supporters remained on the pitch, with stewards guarding both goalmouths.

The Port Vale fans began to grow tired of the protests, chanting they had “made their point” and should leave the pitch.

A further announcement over the PA system said that, unless the pitch was cleared, the match would be abandoned. It added that it would go “along with the consequences” of a possible points deduction.

As the delay reached the half-hour mark some Reading fans who had remained in the stands began to boo those on the pitch, while Vale fans began to chant “we want our money back”.

There remained a tight cordon of stewards around the entrance to the players’ tunnel, with the players having remained in the dressing rooms throughout.

Vale manager Andy Crosby walked along the touchline to speak to the club’s fans, many of whom then started to leave the stadium.

Moments later the announcement for the match to be postponed was made.

An EFL spokesperson said on X: “Every effort was made to restart the game, but it became increasingly obvious that this would not be possible.

“We will now discuss the implications of this afternoon’s events with the clubs involved.”

The abandonment left boss Ruben Selles fearing Reading may be forced to play home games behind closed doors.

He said: “We know that there could be repercussions. It could be that we play with an empty stadium for one or two games or even the rest of the season.

“There could be a financial punishment, of course. It’s a big variety of things and it will be up to a panel of experts to decide.”

Reading have had three points deductions – totalling 16 points – for various financial breaches in the past three years under Yongge’s stewardship.

This season, they have lost four points to deductions, punishment that has seen them struggle in the League One relegation zone.

The fixture will be restaged later in the season on a midweek date.

:: Bolton’s League One match against Cheltenham was also abandoned. This was due to a medical emergency in the crowd.