Reading given suspended three-point deduction for abandonment caused by pitch invasion
- Published
A group of Reading fans forced the abandonment of their League One match against Port Vale on 13 January with a pitch invasion after 16 minutes
Reading have been given a suspended three-point deduction for the abandonment of their match with Port Vale, caused by fans invading the pitch in protest at their owner Dai Yongge.
Play was stopped in the 16th minute, with the game eventually called off.
The deduction will be activated if the Royals have another game called off because of "disruption" from fans before the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Dai has also been charged for again not meeting a monthly funding deadline.
In three seasons, Reading have gone from the Championship to the foot of League One, had 16 points deducted, and had transfer embargoes applied as the club failed to fulfil financial commitments.
The Port Vale match will be replayed in full on 20 February, the English Football League confirmed.
The EFL said: "The league continues to recognise the ongoing challenges for the club and its supporter base and notes the views expressed at the supporter meeting held with the EFL last week in respect of imposing further immediate points deductions on the club.
"This approach aims to balance the requirements of the EFL to uphold its regulations on behalf of all member clubs whilst providing clarity to all associated parties on the impact of any future non-fulfilment of a fixture, coming as direct result of supporter protests."
Before Tuesday night's match with Derby, supporters' action group Sell Before We Dai urged fans not to repeat the pitch invasion while it considers its next steps.
Reading say the Football Association are an investigation the club says "may result in serious implications", including "possibly a very significant financial penalty".
Port Vale, meanwhile, say supporters with tickets for the abandoned fixture will receive a full refund.
Dai's EFL misconduct charge is for his repeated failures to deposit money for the club's monthly wages into a designated bank account in advance.
The Chinese businessman has been in default for nearly four months and has also been charged with bringing the club and/or league into disrepute as a result of his actions.
Last week the EFL said Dai must either "fund the club adequately" or "make immediate arrangements to sell" - in December the league had recommended he be banned from all football activity for 12 months, but an independent disciplinary commission opted against enforcing it.