Sympathy and frustration as Port Vale are caught up in Reading chaos
An in-depth look at Port Vale after their League One game at Reading FC was abandoned
Port Vale will take up the case for their supporters with the EFL after yesterday’s game at Reading was abandoned after just 16 minutes of play.
More than 800 Vale fans made the trip but the game never restarted after home fans invaded the pitch to protest about their owner Dai Yongge. Those protests lasted for more than an hour before the game was finally abandoned with the score goalless.
The game had already been held up for three minutes when tennis balls were thrown on to the playing surface. The abandonment leaves the EFL to decide whether the game should be replayed, or even whether Vale should be awarded the points. But there is also the question of compensation for the travelling fans who paid up to £29 for their match tickets.
Speaking to The Valiant after the game, Vale owner Carol Shanahan said she had plenty of sympathy for Reading supporters whose club has been docked 16 points over the last three seasons. But she also has concerns for the Vale fans who made the six-hour round trip to watch the game. She also praised the behaviour and the patience of those travelling supporters.
We’ve got a full interview with the Vale owner in what is a bumper edition for Sunday January 14.
There’s a look in detail at how the afternoon unfolded with views from supporters in the away end, a look at why the Reading protesters took action, a footballer’s view of why the game couldn’t have been played behind-closed-doors last night, talking points from the action we did see, a double helping of nostalgia and plenty more.
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