Farage faces opposition from Sunderland fans over visit

Supporters of Sunderland AFC have launched a petition to keep Nigel Farage away from the football club.

Farage and Reform are predatory in working-class cities like Sunderland

The Reform UK leader was in Sunderland last month to launch the party’s local election campaign. For the first time all of Sunderland’s 75 council seats will be up for reelection. There are fears across the city that Reform could muscle in due to the working-class population’s dissatisfaction with Labour.

In 2024 Sunderland city centre came under attack during far-right riots. Reform denied any part in the riots, despite its voters massively supporting them.

Whilst in Sunderland for the local election launch, Farage told ITV News:

I am hoping to go to a home game there at some point before the end of the season.

He continued:

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.

ITV reports that the director in question was Juan Sartori, whom Farage met at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year.

In response, a petition has been launched to ‘keep Nigel Farage out of Sunderland AFC‘

The petition says:

We, the undersigned Sunderland supporters, call on the club and its directors not to extend any invitation to Nigel Farage, or any other politician, whether at the Stadium of Light or elsewhere.

Reform does not represent Sunderland or SAFC

It sets out many reasons why fans should oppose a potential visit. These include that Farage’s visit would be a publicity stunt to secure votes:

He doesn’t care about the club, has never mentioned it before, and has no real connection with it… Such behaviour is totally inappropriate for any politician, from any party. It’s also totally inappropriate for any football club to enable such actions.

The petition also lays out that it would reflect badly on the club, especially since it’s been actively involved in Show Racism the Red Card. It also highlights that many current and former players have experienced racism on and off the pitch.

The petition also points out that while you don’t need to belong to a particular political party to support Sunderland, Farage’s politics are in complete opposition to the club’s values and foundations:

The working-class, socialist history of the fan base, who often worked as shipbuilders or miners, still resonates. There’s a reason why Durham Miners’ Association banners are still paraded at the Stadium of Light. There’s a reason why the road next to the stadium is named after Keir Hardie. There’s a reason fans sing The Red Flag. Hosting Farage in particular is a slap in the face to the history of our club, what it stands for, and fans, past and present.

Ipswich Town recently came under fire after Farage visited the club’s stadium ahead of a rally in Ipswich later that day. He posed for photos in the dressing room and on the pitch. The petition says the publicity stunt by Farage left Ipswich fans ashamed and that Farage:

seized on the chance for a photo opportunity and to pander to their fans for votes, then left.

The petition is calling on SAFC to:

1. Withdraw any existing invitations to Nigel Farage – or any other politician – to visit the club.
2. Affirm the club’s independence from party politics.
3. Affirm that the club will never allow itself to be exploited as a platform for shallow political stunts and promotion.
4. Explain to fans if an invitation was extended to Farage and, if so, when, by whom, and in what form and capacity.
5. Affirm that no one involved in running the club will unilaterally invite any politicians to the club or seek to use their position for personal gain.

If you are a Sunderland fan, live in Sunderland or want to show solidarity, you can support the petition here.

Featured image via the Canary