04 January 2024 , 16:11
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Sunderland issued a grovelling apology to furious fans on Thursday - after Newcastle United were allowed to redecorate parts of the Stadium of Light in black and white.
Newcastle took over the Black Cats’ £600 corporate area yesterday ahead of their FA Cup tie and refitted it - provoking the fury of Sunderland fans. The Geordies installed black and white signs and logos deep inside Sunderland’s stadium, so fans, directors and corporate execs could feel at home, with full approval from Sunderland.
But when pictures emerged on Thursday of the interior of the Stadium of Light being turned from red and white to black and white there was uproar on Wearside with demands for the board to be sacked. Newcastle have taken a big chunk of corporate bar space for the first Tyne Wear derby in almost eight years, plus the entire terrace behind a goal.
One sign had the Mackem greeting Ha’way crossed out and replaced by the Geordie version Howay. Another sign behind a bar mocked the Sunderland anthem “Keep the Red Flag flying high”, but saying: “Keep the black and white flying high.”
There were also “Cheer up” signs behind the bars, in tribute to the Toon song: Cheer up Peter Reid, oh what can it mean to a sad Mackem b****** and a S*** football team.” A Newcastle source confirmed the signs were genuine and put up to make the site more welcoming for Toon fans. A Newcastle club partner is Molson Coors, who own the Carling brand of beer.
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After a backlash from Wearside fans, Sunderland ordered the black and white branding to be ripped down again, and said in a statement: “Sunderland AFC acknowledges that a serious error in judgement was made in relation to Black Cats Bar earlier this afternoon.
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Newcastle will face Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup (@RokerReport)“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.”
To add to the tension, some 6,000 Newcastle fans will be bussed to Wearside in a police convoy then given their tickets taking over an entire end at the stadium on Saturday. That decision caused anger among Sunderland season ticket holders who were turfed out of their usual seats for the occasion.
There was fury on social media with one fan writing: "Sack the board.” The influential @RokerReport fanzine account said: “I’m absolutely appalled.”
Another Sunderland fan tweeted Sky Sports presenter and Sunderland director Dave Jones saying: “Do me a favour pal, tell Kyril (Louis Dreyfus, the owner) I want a straightener. F**king minging this.” Another wrote: “An embarrassing shambles of a decision and the supporters have a right to know whose decision it was to green light it.”
Newcastle fans were quick to rub in their higher league position ahead of Saturday’s game. One wrote: “Rolling out the red carpet for North East royalty.”
Another said: “I would expect nothing less. It happens when a lot of lower league sides play big clubs.” Another wrote: “What a sweet gesture, cheers lads. We coming out to the Blaydon Races for KO too?”