'Absolute disgrace' - Newcastle United & Sunderland supporters in agreement over St James' Park decision
Newcastle United and Sunderland supporters have hit back following confirmation of December’s Tyne-Wear derby match arrangements.
Newcastle United and Sunderland supporter groups have labelled the enforced arrangements for supporters ‘a huge step back’ and an ‘absolute disgrace’ ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park on December 6.
It was confirmed that Sunderland supporters would have to travel to St James’ Park from Wearside and back via club coaches. This comes following a decision by the Safety Advisory Group on the recommendation of Northumbria Police.
The ‘bubble arrangement’ was in place for Newcastle when the sides met in the FA Cup at the Stadium of Light back in 2024. Back then, the Magpies were given an away allocation of 6,000 to comply with competition rules.
Sunderland have confirmed that their away allocation at St James’ Park has been cut for the second successive season with 2,200 tickets set to go on sale. The fixture was confirmed for Sunday, December 6 (2pm kick-off) after being selected for live broadcast on Sky Sports.
The decisions set to impact supporters have seen backlash from both sides, with calls for greater transparency.
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‘A slap in the face’
While Newcastle’s statement claimed that the SAG recommendation will not impact the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light in May 2027, further recommendations are to be expected closer to the time.
And leading Newcastle supporters group, Wor Flags, have raised concerns over the ‘absolutely pathetic’ decision to reduce away allocations again.
“The away derby allocation for both clubs being reduced again on top of last year’s reduced allocation is absolutely pathetic,” a Wor Flags statement read. “Whoever is responsible for this decision should be ashamed. We’ve seen the impact of reduced away allocations in Glasgow. No fan should want that here.
“The club said for the cup game in 2024 that it did not expect the imposed conditions of that fixture to set a precedent for future league games.
“After just two games between the teams and little incident, this is a slap in the face to the supporters, and done without fan dialogue. This is a huge step back.”
‘An absolute disgrace’
A statement from the Red & White Army supporter trust and the Branch Liaison Council vehemently slammed the decision and requested answers from the SAG, Northumbria Police and Newcastle United over how the decision was reached.
"The decision to enforce a 'bubble trip' arrangement onto the upcoming derby match is an absolute disgrace,” the Red & White Army statement read.
"The decision has been made behind closed doors, and with no transparency and consultation with fans. The Red & White Army Supporters Trust and Branch Liaison Council (BLC) are fundamentally opposed to this.
“Recent fixtures at both St James' Park and the Stadium of Light were delivered successfully, with Northumbria Police confirming that operations passed largely 'without incident' and praising the conduct of the overwhelming majority of supporters.
“Therefore, the decision to designate this season's fixture as a 'bubble match' raises important question that must be answered. Given that recent fixtures have been safely and successfully managed, authorities must explain and provide evidence as to why these draconian fixtures have been introduced this season.
“The overwhelming majority of fans attending this fixture, and football matches in general, are law-abiding people whose only aim is to watch a football club and support their club. Measures introduced to address the actions of a tiny minority should not penalise the thousands of fans who have committed no crimes and consistently behave responsibly.
"We therefore call on the SAG, Northumbria Police and NUFC to provide greater transparency for these arrangements and to engage meaningfully with supporter representatives. This decision must be reversed.
"The Red & White Army supporters trust and the BLC fully supports proportionate measures to ensure the safety of supporters, staff, police officers and the wider public. The fixture is a showcase for the passion and rivalry that makes north east football special and should be managed appropriately. This is not it."
Sunderland revealed that the club is opposed to the decision that has been reached in an official statement confirming the derby plans while also requesting greater transparency.
“Whilst we do not agree with the decision that has been reached, we recognise that this decision will disappoint many supporters who would prefer to make their own travel arrangements,” the Sunderland statement read. “While respecting the SAG’s decision, we have sought clarity on the revised risk assessment and requested transparency as to how the end decision has been made.
“Sunderland AFC will receive an allocation of 2,200 tickets. The Club is working to confirm coach pick-up points and will share further details, alongside ticketing and travel information, as soon as possible. Specific arrangements will be made for supporters with accessibility requirements.
“Supporters without tickets are strongly advised not to travel to Newcastle on the day of the fixture. We are exploring options to enable fans to watch the match at the Stadium of Light and will provide further information once arrangements have been confirmed.
“We will continue to work closely with our fan groups through the Supporter Collective to ensure supporters’ concerns are represented and considered across all aspects of the decision, including travel, ticketing and other matchday arrangements. Despite the outcome, we remain committed to making the process as straightforward as possible and delivering an enjoyable and memorable experience for all supporters attending the fixture.”