Reading receives a three-point suspended penalty for abandoning Port Vale.
Following a pitch invasion by Reading supporters that resulted in the abandonment of their League One match against Port Vale, the team was awarded a suspended three-point punishment.
Following a 16-minute interval, the match was called off when Reading supporters, in a show of defiance towards their owner, Dai Yongge, would not leave the Select Car Leasing Stadium pitch.
In addition to being accused of wrongdoing, the EFL has charged Dai with putting Reading and the league “into disrepute” and with repeatedly failing to deposit a sum of money equal to 125% of the club’s anticipated monthly pay cost in a specified bank account. An impartial commission has been tasked with reviewing these allegations.
If Reading supporters cause another game to be postponed this season or next, Reading’s suspended penalty will be activated.
The entire Port Vale match will be rerun on Tuesday, February 20 at 8:00 p.m. GMT.
On January 13, Reading supporters stayed on the field for more than an hour during the first game, and the visiting Port Vale fans showed their support by cheering. As part of their protest, the home fans also flung tennis balls, lighted smoke bombs, and showed placards.
Reading has been docked points by the EFL in each of the previous three seasons. The 2022–23 campaign’s six-point deduction meant that the team would be relegated to League One for the first time since 2002.
The Berkshire club has lost four points this season as a result of late salary payments and missed deadlines.
Dai’s inability to deposit the required payments prompted the EFL to accuse him of wrongdoing, and in December the organisation demanded that the Chinese businessman be barred from any football-related activities for a year.
Additionally, in November, Reading was referred to an independent commission “for continued non-payment of monies owed to HMRC.” The EFL pushed Dai to sell Reading or provide sufficient funding for the team earlier this month.
Over the past three seasons, Dai, who has owned the bulk of Reading since 2017, has been the target of constant criticism from supporters. As of right now, Reading is four points behind Exeter City in 20th place in League One and in 21st place overall.
