Championship away end to be EMPTY live on Sky Sports with fans set to launch furious protest
THE Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust has announced plans to protest against club owner Dejphon Chansiri at Sunday's opening Championship fixture at Leicester.
Chansiri is under mounting pressure to sell the club as a spiralling financial crisis left players and staff unpaid on time last week for a third successive month.
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Sheffield Wednesday fans are set to boycott the start of Sunday's match against Leicester at the King Power Stadium in protest of the club's ownership
Credit: Getty
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Owner Dejphon Chansiri is refusing to sell the spiralling club for less than £100m
Credit: PA
The Trust has called on fans to delay entry to their seats until five minutes after kick-off, while a large banner will be displayed in "a visibly empty away end" at the King Power Stadium.
Details of "stronger action" at the Owls' first home game of the season against Stoke on August 16 will be announced soon, the Trust said.
A Trust statement read: "With (Sunday's) match live on Sky Sports, a visibly empty away end will highlight the seriousness of our club's plight to a national audience.
"An additional impactful, visual large-scale display has been arranged for the day, which we hope will make a huge statement.
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"While we are aware stronger action is required this season, we do not feel this is the correct fixture, the opportunity for nationwide coverage is too good to miss.
"Further details for stronger action at our first home game against Stoke City, will be provided very soon.
"We thank supporters for their incredible backing in these difficult times."
Chansiri, who bought the club for a reported £37.5million from Milan Mandaric in 2015, is trying to sell up and recently confirmed he turned down a £40million bid, while talks with various other interested parties have stalled.
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The club has been sanctioned by the EFL for various financial breaches since 2017 and are currently under three embargoes relating to late payments to HMRC, unpaid debts over transfer fees and failing to pay players and staff on time.
Under a registration embargo, Wednesday are unable to sign players, including free agents, in this summer's window or the following two in 2026.
Sheffield Wednesday star Jamal Lowe breaks silence on threat to strike as Championship club's crisis deepens
Staff wages were paid late in March, May, June and July, while a behind-closed-doors friendly against Burnley on Saturday was cancelled after players refused to play.
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Josh Windass and Michael Smith had their contracts terminated by mutual consent this summer to allow them to join Wrexham and Preston and it has been reported that defender Max Lowe has handed in his notice.
There is growing concern within the EFL over whether the Owls will be able to play their first game of the season, while the club has also been forced to close the North Stand at Hillsborough after the Safety Advisory Group refused to issue a safety certificate until renovation work had been completed.
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Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Five things we know as the Wicklow Senior Championship goes knockout
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Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
All-Ireland Camogie Final player ratings: Dolan a leading light but Looney tormented by red mist
How they rated — Cork Amy Lee: How she didn't get a free when Caoimhe Kelly pushed the Cork goalkeeper and then pointed for Galway is anyone's guess. Lee may be more frustrated about not getting a hurley to Mairead Dillon's strike for the goal. Not that she was necessarily at fault either. 7 Libby Coppinger: Lined up on Caoimhe Kelly from the start. Fouled Aoife Donohue for a free that Galway converted to go five clear in the 51st minute. A strong performer overall though. Used her possessions wisely with assured distribution. 7 Pamela Mackey: Trotted over to mark Carrie Dolan when the Galway captain and number nine took her place at full-forward. Dolan had a powerful game, though Mackey remained a tireless performer, holding the sliotar at full-time as she attempted to create one last meaningful play. 6 Meabh Cahalane: The Cork captain cleared plenty of ball and thundered into a series of tackles, setting the tone at times in a bruising encounter. 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But was the first Cork player replaced. 6 Sorcha McCartan: A powerful performer for Cork on her day but this wasn't hers. Which Galway's Rachael Hanniffy can take some credit for. A hero in the closing minutes of last year's final, she made a 41st minute exit here. 5.5 Amy O'Connor: Cork's prolific scorer came into the final with a hushed up hamstring injury and never really got going. Won the penalty and converted three frees but was eventually replaced in the second-half. 6 SUBS 5 Clodagh Finn had an immediate impact, winning a free that was converted but all of the five changes were attack minded and none of them got on the scoresheet. Kate Wall will be frustrated with her challenge on Carrie Dolan that led to the Galway matchwinner. HOW SWEET IT IS: Galway players Carrie Dolan, behind, and Mairead Dillion celebrate after their side's victory in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final match between Cork and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. 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The foul on Clodagh Finn for a free that Cork knocked over was a rare lowlight. Getting out in front, grabbing possession and clearing in the 44th minute summed up her all action style. 8 Siobhan Gardiner: Not initially named to start but wore number 21 and replaced Emma Helebert. Lasted the duration and deserved to as she did a decent job on Saoirse McCarthy when making her in the first-half. 7 Ciara Hickey: Sometimes the spare defender, sometimes the tight marker, depending on the situation. Her distribution wasn't always perfect but she moved plenty of ball forward and up the pitch. Still going strong with a brilliant block on Ashling Thompson in the dying minutes before being eventually rested. 7.5 Dervla Higgins: Involved in Galway's first score, in the third minute. Three minutes later, she blocked an Emma Murphy shot, setting the tone for a strong performance. Will look back with satisfaction on a lionheart display. 7.5 Annmarie Starr: Put in a serious shift in the Galway engine room. Right in the thick of it next to Aoife Donohue when the penalty was conceded so dodged a bullet there. 7 Olwen Rabbitte: Wore number 11 but lined up at midfield beside Annmarie Starr. Tried to string the play together, with mixed results. Eventually taken off with her tank apparently empty in the final 10 minutes. 6.5 Niamh Mallon: Galway's top scorer from play beforehand added just a single point though it was an important one to get them off the mark in the second-half. Clipped a wide too but brought industry and experience to her wing position. 7. Mairead Dillon: Capped her maiden final with a brilliantly taken goal in the 14th minute, a low and sound finish that she will never forget. Her impact all year has been vital as Galway coped with the absence of four key players from the 2024 final team. 7 Aoife Donohue: Scored the first point of the game - setting the tone for a thrilling performance. Her second point came after Cork had wasted their penalty attempt, so was timely. She fed Mairead Dillon for the goal and won two other frees that resulted in points. 8 Ailish O'Reilly: Hugely experienced performer who delivered yet again for Galway. It wasn't the 0-5 she sniped in the semi-final but three points on final day is good going. Hawk-Eye, bizarrely, was required for her first point which flew over the black spot. 7.5 Carrie Dolan: Began the game at full-forward but popped up all around the field. Didn't score from play - all seven points came from frees - but was still hugely influential. She was fouled for the red card and won two vital second-half frees that she converted, including the matchwinner. 9 Caoimhe Kelly: The teenager appeared to push Cork goalkeeper Amy Lee before scoring a 22nd minute point, a bad call in what was eventually a one-point game. Had a limited impact other than that and was taken off early in the second-half after a wide. 6 SUBS - 7 Cathal Murray was criticised for failing to act quickly enough with subs last year. He only used one until the 53rd minute this time but Sabina Rabbitte, who came on in the 41st minute, did have a big impact. She tore into the play and was unlucky that more of her work didn't turn to scores.
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Premier League cult hero, 40, charges onto touchline to berate EFL fourth official despite not being on coaching staff
Fans reacted to the moment on social media REF RAGE Premier League cult hero, 40, charges onto touchline to berate EFL fourth official despite not being on coaching staff PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero Valon Behrami raged at an EFL fourth official during Watford's defeat to Charlton. The Hornets stumbled out of the blocks in the Championship as they lost their opening game to the newly promoted Addicks. Advertisement 7 Valon Behrami raged at the fourth official after Watford were denied a penalty Credit: x 7 He was named assistant sporting director at Watford in July Credit: Getty 7 Behrami played for the Hornets between 2015 and 2017 Credit: Action Images - Reuters Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! Harvey Knibbs netted a last-gasp goal to give Nathan Jones' side a fairytale return to the second division. The result could have been different if the hosts had been awarded a penalty after Thomas Kaminski brought down Nestory Irankunda. Penalty shouts from Watford fans and players were waved away by referee Stephen Martin. The decision left the hosts fuming but no more so than former player and now assistant sporting director Behrami. Advertisement READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS LEFT TO RU Fuming ex-Premier League boss gives team talk on PITCH after embarrassing loss The former Swiss international could be seen berating the fourth official on the touchline. The moment was made even more remarkable as he is not a part of the coaching staff and manager Paulo Pezzolano was not involved. Fans were even taken aback by the moment as they reacted on social media. One posted: "Never seen a non-coaching staff member as animated as Valon Behrami today." Advertisement SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN A second commented: "Some things never change haha." A third wrote: "He will be the new head coach in place by November." EFL club launch new badge like 'lion with lollipop and first aid box' Behrami, 40, played for Watford for two seasons between 2015 and 2017. Advertisement He made 49 appearances for the Hornets without scoring a single goal. One match would stick out in fans' memories as he puked all over the pitch during the clash with Everton. But it was West Ham that brought him to the English shores back in 2008. 7 He first played in England for West Ham Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Advertisement 7 He scored five times for the Hammers Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd The Hammers signed the midfielder from Lazio for £5million and he became a key part of the team. Behrami did have his time in the East End disrupted by injury as he suffered an ACL in 2009. In total, he played 63 times for West Ham and scored five goals, including a winner against Sunderland in November 2008. Advertisement Between playing at Upton Park and Vicarage Road, he had spells at Fiorentina, Napoli and Hamburg. After leaving England for the final time as a player, he had spells at Udinese, Sion, Genoa and Brescia before retiring in 2022. He was appointed as Watford's assistant sporting director in July. 7 Behrami spent two years at Napoli during his career Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Advertisement
