Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claims a director from Sunderland has invited him to watch a game at the Stadium of Light
Nigel Farage claims he has been invited to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claims a Sunderland director has offered to host him at a game at the Stadium of Light and discuss the independent football regulator. It follows on from a recent visit to Championship club Ipswich Town and their ground, Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys experienced an intense backlash on social media from some of the club’s supporters groups, after allowing the politician to visit the club on Monday before a rally at the town’s Trinity Park later the same day.
Farage posed for pictures around the ground and in the club’s dressing room, before thanking the people of Suffolk for a ‘lovely welcome.’
The Reform UK leader was in Sunderland to launch the party’s local election campaign on Thursday evening, inside Houghton-le-Spring’s Sunderland Live Arena.
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Farage said he was hoping to attend a game at the Stadium of Light, and told ITV News: “I am hoping to go to a home game there at some point before the end of the season.
“I have been talking to one of the directors and they would very much like to see me there for a home game. If I can make it, I will.”
It has been reported that Sunderland director Juan Sartori invited Farage to the football club and the Black Cats have been contacted for comment by Chronicle Live.
Nigel Farage in Sunderland(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)
Farage believes that other clubs should be open to discussions regarding the decision to introduce a regulator for English football, a role independent from both the government and football authorities.
“Football clubs should want to talk to me,” he said. “You know why? The government is about to bring in a football regulator and I think the last thing English football needs – given what a massive success the Premier League is – is a state-appointed regulator.
“It is a conversation I had at Ipswich the other day, I will have at Sunderland before very long and I want to speak to all the clubs about this.”
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Farage added: “It is not about support. It is about a football club being open to leaders of national political parties.”