Reading proof football needs more stringent ownership test, says campaign group

Reading’s plight is an example of why a stringent owners’ and directors’ test is imperative under a new football regulation bill, according to Fair Game chief executive Niall Couper.

Saturday’s Sky Bet League One match against Port Vale was abandoned after approximately 1,000 home supporters invaded the pitch in what one fan group have promised is the start of protests against owner Dai Yongge.

The club have been hit with a series of points deductions and financial penalties under the Chinese businessman’s stewardship and following Championship relegation after being docked six points they are 21st in League One having been stripped of four this season.

“Football belongs to the fans, but it shouldn’t be down to them to take action,” said Couper, whose organisation work to find long-term solutions to issues like protecting the heritage of clubs.

“Reading FC fans have, for years, paid the price of mismanagement of the club. The mismanagement has now put the club’s future at severe risk.

“The independent regulator must have strong powers for intervention before any club reaches this stage, and the forthcoming bill must also include a fit for purpose and stringent owners’ and directors’ tests.”

Sell Before We Dai, a fan group urging Yongge – Reading’s majority shareholder since May 2017 – to sell up, on Monday released a statement saying it “does not want to see a repeat of Saturday’s match abandonment but nothing is off the table until something tangible is done in terms of ownership.”

Sell Before We Dai spokesperson Nick Houlton also repeated calls for the EFL to intervene and echoed many of Couper’s sentiments.

He said: “We really need the EFL to take decisive action now, not just for us but for all football fans whose clubs are under threat due to negligent owners. The EFL has the power to approve owners. It is astonishing they are powerless to remove them.

“An independent regulator for football cannot come soon enough but there are things the EFL can do now to force Dai Yongge out of football for good.

“We urge the government to reconsider making Reading a test case for the independent regulator. We need this for the future of our club, our fans and the wider footballing community.”

A number of Port Vale fans showed solidarity with their opposite numbers during the protest and, as a return gesture of goodwill, numerous Reading supporters have been donating to an online fundraiser, started with the goal of building a statue of former Vale boss John Rudge.

Over £1,000 was donated on Monday morning, along with several messages of thanks, using the gofundme platform.