‘Serious error in ‘judgement’—Sunderland forced to apologise as fans left fuming after club decorate bar in Newcastle slogans ahead of FA Cup clash
Sunderland have apologised to enraged fans after Newcastle United slogans were put up at the Stadium of Light.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Newcastle renovated the Black Cats’ £600 corporate area prior to their FA Cup game. In order to make fans, executives and business executives feel welcome during the first Tyne-Wear derby in more than eight years, the Geordies, with Sunderland’s full support, displayed black and white signage and emblems inside the stadium.
However, when pictures of the Stadium of Light’s interior—which had been altered from red and white to black and white—surfaced, supporters erupted and demands were made for the board to be sacked.
WHAT SUNDERLAND SAID
Earlier today, the Black Cats released a statement in which they formally apologised to the supporters: “Sunderland AFC acknowledges that a serious error in judgement was made in relation to Black Cats Bar earlier this afternoon.”
“We apologise to our fans for the understandable concern they have fairly voiced in response and this sentiment is shared by the Club’s Ownership Group and Board of Directors, who have requested an immediate review is undertaken to determine how this process unfolded.”
“A direct decision has also been taken by the Ownership Group and Board of Directors to return the space to its original state and we once again apologise to our supporters that this was not addressed sooner.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The fact that over 6,000 Newcastle supporters will be bussed to Wearside in a police escort and given their tickets on Saturday, taking up a whole end of the stadium, is sure to heighten the tension ahead of what looks set to be a feisty derby.
WHAT NEXT FOR SUNDERLAND?
The club will host Newcastle United on Saturday, January 6 in the third round of the FA Cup in the first Tyne-Wear derby since 2016.
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