' Reading FC Make Statement '

Two isolated incidents of discriminatory abuse in the South Stand were reported to our Safety Officer in the Control Room during the first half of our FA Cup Fourth Round match against Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.

As a result of a statement taken by the police that afternoon, it was deemed there was sufficient evidence to arrest four Cardiff City supporters for alleged racist chanting under the Football Spectators Act. To justify any arrest, there needs to be reasonable grounds.

The four individuals have all since been interviewed and released under investigation. These alleged incidents continue to be fully investigated by the Thames Valley Police and we will continue to assist the authorities with these investigations.

No further reports of discriminatory behaviour were received during the course of the tie.


As indicated on the day of the game, these incidents were isolated, restricted to a small number of individuals and affected only a minority of supporters attending the match. There was certainly no intention to tarnish the reputation of the travelling support on the day, Cardiff City Football Club nor its fanbase in general, who in the overwhelming majority behaved impeccably at the weekend.

We would like to apologise to all supporters of Cardiff City Football Club who played no part in any discriminatory abuse and feel that their character has been blemished unwarrantedly by the announcement which was made over the PA system at Madejski Stadium. Reading Football Club are liaising with the relevant football authorities to consider how football-wide protocol issued to us was implemented in this instance and we will review our procedure regarding public matchday announcements of this nature accordingly.

However, at both Reading Football Club and Cardiff City Football Club, we remain committed to ensuring that the matchday environment provides a positive experience for all.

Discrimination of any form is not ok and all supporters who visit Madejski Stadium are reminded that instances of discriminatory behaviour will not be tolerated.

No further comment can be made by Reading Football Club or Thames Valley Police at this stage so not to compromise the ongoing investigation.

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2020/j ... supporters

‘We’re sorry we got caught out abusing the system.’

No apology for the anti-Welsh chants and still trying to make out major offence to the anti-England chants. Pathetic statement.

Obviously they haven’t been told the 4 arrested were released without charge and no further action will be taken....

Talk about trying to pass blame, cover ones arse and not take any responsibility for ones actions

All those who attend Friday night, and the replay as well, need to be petty and report the anti-welsh songs when they sing them.... play them at their own game

We would like to apologise to all supporters of Cardiff City Football Club who played no part in any discriminatory abuse and feel that their character has been blemished unwarrantedly by the announcement which was made over the PA system at Madejski Stadium

That's fair enough. They have apologised and will hopefully be a lot less inclined to point the finger in future.

Apology accepted.

Obviously they haven’t been told the 4 arrested were released without charge and no further action will be taken....

Talk about trying to pass blame, cover ones arse and not take any responsibility for ones actions

They’ve been released under investigation not without charge.

Obviously they haven’t been told the 4 arrested were released without charge and no further action will be taken....

Talk about trying to pass blame, cover ones arse and not take any responsibility for ones actions

They’ve been released under investigation not without charge.

waiting for DNA results...

In other words the plonker in control room didn't know the protocol and caused an unnecessary incident between the clubs and supporters.... at least hopefully it will prevent similar incidents with other fans.

All those who attend Friday night, and the replay as well, need to be petty and report the anti-welsh songs when they sing them.... play them at their own game

no further reports of discriminatory behaviour have been reported. ?
maybe they should watch a re run of the game and listen to their own fans efforts..

That is no apology. They should also apologise to the four supporters who got arrested.

All those who attend Friday night, and the replay as well, need to be petty and report the anti-welsh songs when they sing them.... play them at their own game

No they don’t.

Massive cop out by reading!!!!!

Not once have they said it wasnt racist or homophobic abuse...which it wasn't. Not once have they mentioned the same abuse from their fans. F$#k them. Best way to respond now is by outsinging and out playing them in both games at ccfc. Cmon you bluebirds!!!!

Not good enough. The apology- for what it is worth -is hidden away amongst the usual doublespeak.

Not once in that statement is racism or homophobia mentioned.

So the announcement was unjustified.

They could just come out and say we were wrong and we lied to the media about it NOT being discriminatory in content (England chants).

That is no apology. They should also apologise to the four supporters who got arrested.

The statement clearly states that "We (RFC) would like to apologise to all supporters of Cardiff City Football Club who played no part in any discriminatory abuse"

Sounds like an apology to me. As for the 4 arrested and still under Police investigation RFC couldn't possibly offer an apology without prejudicing that investigation.

However, when the 4 are released with no further action RFC should apologise to all 4 at that point.

Apology accepted and will have to wait and see what under investigation shows.
It’s the 4 fans then who should then have a full apology.

The anti welsh / English banter is part of football

Apology accepted and will have to wait and see what under investigation shows.
It’s the 4 fans then who should then have a full apology.

The anti welsh / English banter is part of football

It’s quite hard to imagine that will ever stop completely to be honest. Probably just aswell you can barely hear the away fans at the ccs.

So what about all the ‘discriminatory abuse’ coming from the home fans then? Or does this only go one way? Pathetic club.

it’s never right but it’s both ways ....we give it to ever English club we play and get it back.

Did anyone report home fans for anti Welsh chants ?
Guess not ...for whatever reason .

it’s never right but it’s both ways ....we give it to ever English club we play and get it back.

Did anyone report home fans for anti Welsh chants ?
Guess not ...for whatever reason .

Reading Football Club will conduct a review into its handling of the allegations of discriminatory abuse against Cardiff City fans following the fallout from Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round tie.

The clash at the Madejski Stadium was overshadowed by accusations of “racist and homophobic” chanting against away fans made by the hosts over the PA system at the ground.

Cardiff City and their fans have robustly denied the accusations.

We would like to apologise to all supporters of Cardiff City Football Club who played no part in any discriminatory abuse and feel that their character has been blemished unwarrantedly by the announcement which was made over the PA system at Madejski Stadium

That's fair enough. They have apologised and will hopefully be a lot less inclined to point the finger in future.

Are you being serious ? That’s no apology. They are still accusing some of our fans of discriminatory behaviour whilst ignoring the part played by Reading fans. They have put out a statement saying sorry whilst still accusing our fans can’t you see that ?
THEY CAN SHOVE THAT APOLOGY RIGHT UP THERE ARSE THE CHEEKY FUCKERS

It's all very well getting an apology now, but the BBC and Sky sports took great delight at making it a big issue as well as all the Sunday papers with our own "national" newspaper the worst of the lot. I bet we don't get the apology from all of them, it wouldn't suit Wales on Sunday as it's the egg season and they need to print dozens of pages about it. They make me puke.

We would like to apologise to all supporters of Cardiff City Football Club who played no part in any discriminatory abuse and feel that their character has been blemished unwarrantedly by the announcement which was made over the PA system at Madejski Stadium

That's fair enough. They have apologised and will hopefully be a lot less inclined to point the finger in future.

Are you being serious ? That’s no apology. They are still accusing some of our fans of discriminatory behaviour whilst ignoring the part played by Reading fans. They have put out a statement saying sorry whilst still accusing our fans can’t you see that ?
THEY CAN SHOVE THAT APOLOGY RIGHT UP THERE ARSE THE CHEEKY FUCKERS

totally agree mate... the attempted semi apology is crap.
was restricted to a small number .. well no it was not ,there were quite large numbers on both sides. only they decided to discriminate against our fans and are now trying to make out only 4 people in the whole ground chanted anti English / anti Welsh abuse.. not that it is abuse, if you need a dump and your half a mile from magor, magor it is.. its called banter.

On further readings it is proper dirty that they’ve only reported on the immediate consultations with the police forces and not the discussions over the following days (as we did) which clarified that the arrests were for anti-English chanting.

Anyone reading about this for the first time would come out of this statement thinking that there were 4 Cardiff fans throwing racial slurs about.

Despicable statement

Obviously they haven’t been told the 4 arrested were released without charge and no further action will be taken....

Talk about trying to pass blame, cover ones arse and not take any responsibility for ones actions

They’ve been released under investigation not without charge.

So this is false then??

7CA62B48-7929-42DD-A24F-58E8DB12546E.jpeg

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Obviously they haven’t been told the 4 arrested were released without charge and no further action will be taken....

Talk about trying to pass blame, cover ones arse and not take any responsibility for ones actions

They’ve been released under investigation not without charge.

So this is false then??

7CA62B48-7929-42DD-A24F-58E8DB12546E.jpeg

Technically no as the were released without being charged of an offence... is under investigation a new thing? Dont hear people being bailed by police often.