05 January 2024 , 10:05
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The statue of Alan Shearer outside St James' Park has been dressed in a retro Sunderland shirt as tensions flare in the build-up to the Tyne-Wear Derby.
The Black Cats host bitter rivals Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday lunchtime, in the first derby for eight years. There is clearly no love lost between the two teams or their fans as they prepare for a massive clash at the Stadium of Light.
One Sunderland fan has attempted to rile up Magpies supporters by taking over the statue of Toon legend Shearer. In a viral video posted on social media on Thursday, the fan can be seen standing next to the statue which they have dressed in a Sunderland shirt.
The statue sees Shearer in his iconic celebration pose, with the Sunderland fan then dancing around it in the striker's new colours. He captioned the video: "Do a stupid dance if Sunderland are going to win on Saturday."
Shearer lost only two Tyne-Wear Derbies in his career, winning six and scoring three goals. The takeover of his statue comes after Sunderland were forced to apologise to their fans for a major misstep ahead of Saturday's game.
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Newcastle will occupy a part of Sunderland's £600 corporate area for the derby and it was refitted. They installed black-and-white signs and logos in the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland's full approval.
One sign had the Mackem greeting 'Ha'way' crossed out and replaced by the Geordie version 'Ho'way'. Another behind a bar mocked the Sunderland anthem “Keep the Red Flag flying high”, instead being changed to: “Keep the black and white flying high.”
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Shearer's statue has been dressed in a Sunderland shirt (TikTok/@joecant)
The statue normally sees Shearer in his iconic celebration pose (Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)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 source confirmed the signs were genuine and put up to make the site more welcoming for Toon fans.
The incident led to Sunderland chiefs issuing an apology to their supporters after a major backlash from Black Cats fans. The Championship side admitted they had got things wrong, with owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus issuing his own personal apology.
"I would like to apologise to everyone associated with Sunderland AFC for the events that have unfolded today. Like our supporters, I was disgusted and hurt by the pictures circulating online of the inappropriate signs that have been ripped down," Louis-Dreyfus wrote on Instagram.
"I take full responsibility for every decision that is taken by the employees of our club and you have my world that I will personally make sue that we make the necessary changes required to improve because it is clear that there are many areas where we need to be better.
"I have to got know many of you personally over the past three years and I have always tried to act for the good of the people club represents, which makes today even more disappointing. I regret to have let you know, the greatest fans in the world.
"But I thank you for the trust you have shown in me, to lead your club, since the first day I arrived. I hope that in the months and years to come, I will be able to repay it to you - now my full is behind the team for our upcoming derby."