Sunderland issue grovelling apology to fans after being slammed for ‘shameful’ gesture ahead of Newcastle FA Cup tie
Bars in the Stadium of Lights were decorated with Toon chants
SUNDERLAND issued a grovelling apology to fans after allowing “shameful” Newcastle slogans to be plastered over the Stadium of Light.
Raging Black Cats supporters called for the board to be sacked after the shock signage mocked their own club ahead of tomorrow’s powder-keg FA Cup third-round showdown against their bitter rivals.
Stunned ex-Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini slammed the “embarrassing” makeover, insisting: “This will be mentioned by Newcastle fans in 50 years.”
Even Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus admitted he was “disgusted and hurt” at the “inappropriate” signs.
The astonishing refurb sparked a massive backlash, prompting the club’s chiefs to admit “a serious error in judgment” and promising to investigate how it was allowed to happen.
Livid Mackems turned on French-Swiss owner Louis-Dreyfus, 27, for “rolling out the black and white carpet” after images emerged of the bar emblazoned in pro-Magpies signs.
There was a ‘Cheer up Peter Reid’ slogan behind the bar in tribute to the derogatory Toon song which ridicules the ex-Sunderland boss.
Another mocked the Sunderland chant ‘Keep the red flag flying high’ by replacing it with ‘Keep the black and white flag flying high’.
If that were not enough, there were also ‘We are United’ signs and another which had the Wearside greeting ‘Ha’way’ crossed out and replaced by the Tyneside version ‘Howay’.
Gabbiadini, 55, told BBC Radio Newcastle: “We’ve got a group who’ve taken over the club who you would think would have a bit more knowledge of how football works.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“There are people from the region on the board.
“The owner, his club was involved in one of the biggest rivalries in French football with his family’s club, and we’ve opened ourselves up to this. I don’t believe it.”
A number of Sunderland season ticket holders were already angry after being moved to accommodate the 6,000-strong travelling Toon Army.
And the redecoration came after around 700 Geordies each splashed out £600 for a hospitality seat in the Black Cats Bar for the first Tyne-Wear derby in nearly eight years.
Last night Louis-Dreyfus said: “I would like to apologise to everyone associated with Sunderland for the events that have unfolded today.
“Like our supporters, I was disgusted and hurt by the pictures circulating of the inappropriate signs that have now been ripped down.
“I will personally make sure we make the necessary changes because it is clear there are many areas where we need to be better.”
“Like our supporters, I was disgusted and hurt by the pictures circulating of the inappropriate signs that have now been ripped down.”
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
The club had issued an earlier statement which read: “We acknowledge a serious error in judgment was made in relation to Black Cats Bar.
“We apologise to our fans for the understandable concern they have fairly voiced in response.
“The space has been returned to its original state.”
On the PR disaster, fanzine Roker Report said they were “absolutely appalled. This is shameful. The damage is done”.
Others called for Louis-Dreyfus to leave the club, while one fan fumed: “Sack the whole f*****g board, this is shameful.
“They clearly don’t understand what this game means to Sunderland fans.”
Tomorrow’s tie is the first time the two rivals have met in the competition since 1956.
Police officers from outside the North East have been drafted in for the match because of the security concerns.