Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus disgusted and hurt’ by Newcastle issue that left supporters raging
Sunderland have apologised to their supporters after a bar at the Stadium of Light was decked in Newcastle colours ahead of a fixture against their rivals.
Their owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, has also expressed his ‘disgust’ at the events saying he will make the ‘necessary changes required’.
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Images showed the welcome Newcastle fans had been givenCredit: https://twitter.com/Nusc2023
Newcastle travel to Sunderland on Saturday in the FA Cup, and ahead of the match, images emerged of a bar in the away end converted to welcome the visiting fans.
Images showed the slogan ‘keep the black and white flying high’ over the bar and ‘Ha’way the lads’ crossed out and replaced by ‘howay’ for the Magpies’ dialect.
Supporters of the Black Cats vented their fury online over the images, and now the club have had to clarify the mistake.
“Sunderland AFC acknowledges that a serious error in judgement was made in relation to Black Cats Bar earlier this afternoon,” they wrote in a statement.
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“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 various images of the bar, including one that showed the phrase ‘Cheer Up Peter Reid’ in reference to the Sunderland legend, quickly went viral.
The team’s owner, 26-year-old Louis-Dreyfus, has now also commented on Instagram, saying: “I would like to apologise to everyone associated with Sunderland AFC for the events that have unfolded today.
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Signs were ready to be replacedCredit: https://twitter.com/Nusc2023
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One even mocked a Sunderland sloganCredit: https://twitter.com/Nusc2023
“Like our supporters, I was disgusted and hurt by the pictures circulating online of the inappropriate signs that have now been ripped down.
“I take full responsibility for every decision that is taken by the employees of our Club and you have my word that I will personally make sure that we make the necessary changes required to improve because it is clear there are many areas where we need to be better.
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“I have got to know many of you personally over the past three years and I have always tried to act for the good of the people our Club represents, which makes today even more disappointing.
“I regret to have let you down, the greatest fans in the world. But I thank you for the trust you have shown in me, to lead your club, since the first day I arrived.
“I hope that in the months and years to come, I will be able to repay it to you – now my full focus is behind the team for our upcoming derby.”
Fans vented their fury online, and supporters club Red & White Army issued a statement.
“Whoever it is at SAFC that thinks rebranding the BCB for NUFC fans should hang their heads in shame,” they wrote.
“How can they be so out of touch with their own supporters? Take them down now!
“We won’t give up trying to engage with SAFC but it’s proving harder to stomach with moves like this.”
