Reading Agrees to Suspended Three-Point Deduction Following Pitch Invasion

Reading Football Club has reached an agreement with the Football League to accept a suspended three-point penalty in connection with the pitch invasion that led to the abandonment of their League One match against Port Vale earlier this month. Approximately 1,000 Royals supporters stormed the pitch in the 16th minute of the game on 13 January, protesting against the club’s owner, Dai Yongge.

The Football League has confirmed that the suspended points penalty, similar to the one imposed on Blackpool in 2015 under similar circumstances, will be activated if any fixture in any EFL competition is postponed or abandoned due to disruptions caused by the club’s supporters. The rescheduled match against Port Vale will take place in full on Tuesday, 20 February.

In a statement, the EFL acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by the club and its supporters, emphasizing the need to balance the league’s regulations with the concerns expressed by the fans. The league aims to provide clarity on the consequences of any future non-fulfillment of a fixture resulting from supporter protests.

Despite the off-field challenges, Reading secured a vital 1-0 home victory against Derby County on Tuesday, boosting their survival hopes in League One. Paul Mukairu scored the lone goal in the 54th minute, securing three crucial points for Reading, who remain at the bottom but are now 10 points away from safety.

In other League One action, Bolton moved into third place with a 1-0 victory against Cheltenham, while Barnsley secured a 1-0 win at Oxford. Charlton suffered a 3-2 home defeat against Northampton, leading to the dismissal of manager Michael Appleton. Wigan’s 1-0 victory against Wycombe Wanderers, with a goal from Charlie Hughes in the 110th minute, marked a bizarre turn of events in League One. In League Two, MK Dons defeated AFC Wimbledon 3-1, while Mansfield drew 1-1 against Sutton, and Bradford had a 1-1 draw with Salford.