SUNDERLAND have issued a public apology after supporters reacted furiously to the decision to rebrand a section of the Stadium of Light in Newcastle United colours ahead of Saturday’s Wear-Tyne derby.
Newcastle supporters have been handed the Black Cats Bar area of Sunderland’s stadium to house corporate hospitality fans during Saturday’s game.
That was a controversial enough move anyway, with Sunderland fans having taken to social media in the last couple of weeks to express their unhappiness at a popular part of their home ground being made unavailable to them for their biggest game of the season.
However, that frustration was nothing compared to the anger that accompanied images that began to appear on social media yesterday showing the way in which the Black Cats bar was being decorated for Saturday’s derby.
Pictures posted to social media showed a plaque with the words “Black and White” in black and white colours being unwrapped ready to be mounted on either the wall or a surface in the bar.
Other images showed banners running around the top of the wall bearing the words “Keep the black and white flying high” and “We are United”, and a wall covering showing Sunderland’s motto ‘Ha’way the lads’ having been changed to Newcastle’s rallying cry, ‘Howay the lads’.
It is understood that the senior members of the Sunderland hierarchy did not know the changes were taking place, and immediately halted them once they were brought to their attention.
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Later in the evening, Sunderland issued a statement expressing their regret for the day’s events, and revealing that all Newcastle-related branding had been taken back down on would not be on display during Saturday’s game.
The statement said: “Sunderland AFC acknowledges that a serious error in judgement was made in relation to Black Cats Bar earlier this afternoon.
“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.”
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