Sunderland chairman, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has issued an apology to fans following severe backlash to the rebranding of a Stadium of Light bar in Newcastle colours, ahead of the FA Cup clash between the two sides this weekend.
Sunderland’s Black Cat Bar was decorated with Newcastle United colours and slogans ahead of the Tyne-Wear Derby on Saturday, which is set to see 6,000 travelling Newcastle fans at the Stadium of Light for the FA Cup third round fixture.
Footage of the changes, with chants of “Fly the black and white” and “Ho’way the lads” displayed in the bar, began circulating on social media, prompting a significant reaction from Sunderland fans.
National World journalist James Copley warned that after the images flowed, “serious questions” should be posed to policymakers.
Sky Sports North East correspondent Keith Downie said the resolution was taken via Sunderland to protect the Black Cats Bar from damage caused by Newcastle fans, with a further six hundred people expected to use the bar as hospitality.
Yesterday (January 4), Sunderland issued an official apology for the resolution to the Black Cat Bar on the club’s website.
The statement read: “Sunderland AFC acknowledges that a serious error of judgement was made in relation to the Black Cats Bar this afternoon.
“We apologise to our fans for the understandable fear they have rightly expressed in their reaction and this sentiment is shared by the owners’ organisation and the club’s board of directors, who have called for a swift review of how this procedure unfolded.
“A direct resolution was also made through the homeowners organization and board to return the area to its original state and we once again apologize to our supporters that this factor was not resolved sooner. “
Club president Kyril Louis-Dreyfers also apologized on social media, saying he was “disgusted and hurt” by the footage.
“I would like to apologise to those associated with Sunderland AFC for the events that occurred today,” the French-Swiss businessman wrote in Intsagram.
“Like our supporters, I am disgusted and pained by the images circulating online that appear next to the symptoms that are being shot down.
“I take full responsibility for each of the decisions made through the workers of our club and they have my word that I will personally make sure that we make the necessary adjustments, as it is transparent that there are many spaces in which we want to be better. .
“I have personally known many of you over the last 3 years and have tried to act for the good of the other people our club represents, which makes today even more disappointing.
“I’m sorry to have disappointed you, the biggest fans in the world. But I thank you for the acceptance you have placed in me to lead your club from the first day I arrived.
“I hope to be able to return it to you in the coming months and years. Now my complete help is the team for our next derby. “
The mistake has already been made through the club and Sunderland enthusiasts are understandably unhappy.
The club’s decision to welcome their bitter rivals with open arms will never be well achieved by the fans and the hierarchy did what they could to apologise for their error in judgment.
With the atmosphere already expected to be electric at the Stadium of Light for the derby, this will most likely only increase the animosity of Sunderland supporters towards the visiting Geordies.
Newcastle’s poor form and injury crisis will give Sunderland confidence heading into the game and dissatisfied Sunderland fans will make their emotions clear about Newcastle.
It’s that the club’s hierarchy will make the same mistake again.
Sunderland enthusiasts may temporarily make an error in judgment if their team manages to get an opposite result to their bitter rivals and the pressure will be on Michael Beale and his players to give the Black Cats a day to remember.
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