Canaries supporters have been relishing the fallout from the visit to Ipswich Town by Nigel Farage which has left the Suffolk club red-faced and scrambling to explain itself.
The Reform leader released a video of himself enjoying a behind-the-scenes tour of Portman Road, showing him in the changing rooms, on the pitch side, at the tunnel and in the manager’s seat in the press area.
The visit has outraged many Ipswich Town fans who have criticised their club, accusing it of a breach of political impartiality with its apparent endorsement of Mr Farage.
The club claim he did the whole video while on a stadium tour (Image: Reform UK)
He also took Kieran McKenna’s seat in the media room (Image: Reform UK)
When the backlash started, club sources were quick to claim he was not personally invited to the stadium and that Portman Road Events, which manages private tours, had taken a booking on behalf of Reform.
They said the club was not aware of the extent of what was involved until seeing Mr Farage’s video.
But Reform sources appear to have directly contradicted these claims, insisting their leader had received an invite from club representatives.
Ipswich sources then backtracked, saying the club had been involved in the visit, which Reform had privately paid for.
They said Mr Farage and his media team had been accredited by the club ahead of the tour.
However, they pointed out that the Reform leader had not been given any team shirts and that these purchased by the party.
The Reform UK leader took a stroll through the tunnel (Image: Reform UK)
Mr Farage standing pitch side at Portman Road (Image: Reform UK)
According to Ipswich.co.uk, the club’s head of communications, Marcus Nash, was even seen greeting Mr Farage and his team at the entrance to the stadium. However, Mr Nash has denied this.
One aspect of the video which is concerning some Ipswich fans – and delighting Norwich ones – is that Mr Farage is seen signing a shirt to “Mark”.
Supporters from both clubs have been querying whether it refers to Ipswich chairman, Mark Ashton.
The publicity stunt showed him sitting in front of a host of number 10 Farage shirts (Image: Reform UK)
Mr Farage toured the stadium while visiting Ipswich for a Reform rally on Monday at Trinity Park.
Norwich City’s official X feed has even been relishing their rival’s squirming.
It posted on X that new dates were available for tours of Carrow Road and that “Terms and conditions will most definitely apply”, with a grimacing emoji.
A post on the Norwich City FC X account appeared to mock their arch-rivals (Image: Norwich City FC)
Mr Farage, who is attending a rally at the showground next week, responded to the post saying “see you next week”.
After hours of being ridiculed online, Ipswich Town put out a statement which acknowledged club involvement and led to further criticism.
It said: “Ipswich Town Football Club has, over several years, hosted representatives from a range of political parties. The club remains apolitical and does not support or endorse any individual or party.
“The club will continue to engage with representatives from across the political spectrum as part of its role within the community.
“Ipswich Town is proud to be an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming organisation that supports all members of the local and wider community. This commitment remains unchanged.”