Reading: Fans visit Houses of Parliament to protest against owner

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A screen on a lorry in front of Big Ben asking for an Independent Football regulatorImage source, Guy Reece
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The Sell Before We Dai campaign group organised the protest in London

Reading supporters have protested at the Houses of Parliament against the club's Chinese owner, Dai Yongge.

Fans also visited the English Football League headquarters in London as they took their protest across the capital.

They want the owner to sell up following a number of sanctions imposed by the EFL.

Nick Houlton, a spokesperson for the Sell Before We Dai movement, said: "As soon as Dai sells the club, the pressure stops."

He continued: "He must strike a takeover deal before we face even more financial pain."

The group also wanted to increase awareness of other clubs suffering from ownership problems.

"This action wasn't just for Reading FC, but the countless other clubs facing financial difficulties because of poor ownership and outside vested interests," added Houlton.

"We hope this action continues the conversation about football's ownership problems and highlights further the need for an Independent Football Regulator."

Sell Before We Dai and the Reading Supporters Trust are also backing an online fundraiser to help the club's off-field staff.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Reading fans threw tennis balls and fake money onto the pitch during FA Cup Second Round match v Eastleigh

Supporters previously protested during Reading's 2-1 loss to non-league Eastleigh in the FA Cup second round on 3 December by throwing tennis balls and fake money onto the pitch.

Transfer embargos have also been placed on the League One side, most recently in September, after it failed to settle an outstanding tax bill.

Caroline Parker, also from Sell Before We Dai, told BBC South: "We've done as much as we can locally, there's been game disruption, there's been protest marches - we've done as much as we can.

"The tennis balls can only get us a certain level of coverage, we peaked with that with the FA Cup being on television.

"We have to change our strategy, so we thought why not go to London where Dai lives. and get our message around and about his favourite haunts.

"We need Dai to understand the Sell Before We Dai campaign will not stop until he sells the club - we will do whatever we need to do to make that man leave the club."

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