Reading fined for match abandoned after pitch invasion

Reading's match against Port Vale was abandoned after 16 minutes following a pitch invasion by fans

Reading have been fined by the Football Association after a pitch invasion led to their League One match against Port Vale being abandoned in January.

Hundreds of supporters staged a protest against owner Dai Yongge by entering the field of play in the 16th minute of the match at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

The match was stopped and then abandoned by referee Ross Joyce on 13 January with the score 0-0.

Reading won the rearranged fixture 2-0.

The club has been fined £7,500, with half of that suspended until the end of the current season, by the FA.

Reading admitted an FA charge that they "failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion; don’t behave in an improper, threatening or provocative way; or commit any form of pitch incursion".

Royals supporters were protesting against Chinese businessman Yongge's ownership, which has seen the club docked 18 points since the start of the 2021-22 season for various breaches of financial rules.

The club remain up for sale, with former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig understood to be the front-runner to buy them.