15-05-2025
Sheffield United and Sunderland fans in dark over play-off time
Football fans have criticised a delay in confirming when the Championship play-off final on 24 May will United and Sunderland supporters said they remained in the dark about when exactly the match at Wembley would kick off, making it impossible for them to make concrete travel and accommodation arrangements. Rail travel from London St Pancras to Sheffield will also be affected by engineering work on the day, causing disruption and BBC has contacted the English Football League (EFL) for comment.
'In limbo'
Jimmy Smith, from the Sheffield United podcast Blades Ramble, said the delay was "ludicrous" and "disgusting".He added: "Fans need to know what's happening. We can't be in limbo. "It's not just Sheffield Untied fans who need to know but Sunderland fans who have an even longer journey to make."People need to make their arrangements."
Mr Smith said his dad had not yet bought a ticket because his availability for the game depended on the kick-off time. "Because I want to sit with my dad, I can't buy my tickets either even though I'm free," Mr Smith added."I don't blame the club. The club are doing everything they can to communicate what's happening to the fanbase. I just think it's pretty disgusting."Speaking on BBC Radio Sheffield, fellow supporter James Kemp said: "It's crazy and it's preposterous that people booked coaches - we've booked a minibus - but we still don't know what time we're setting off."They talk about key stakeholders being involved in discussions. Where are the fans in that? "It's just madness and it's getting to the stage where the fans and powers-that-be are in a toxic relationship because they just don't care about the fans anymore."
'Totally unacceptable'
The Blades Fans Advisory Board said it had escalated the matter to the Football Supporters Association (FSA).The board said the "lack of empathy, understanding, compassion, communication and care of fans needs addressing".Writing on X, it added: "This level of service would be totally unacceptable in any other industry."Sky Sports, which is set to broadcast the game, referred the BBC back to the EFL for comment when asked to explain what input it was having into Sunderland Supporters Association has been contacted for comment.
'Disrupted journeys'
Dan Matthews, Network Rail's head of operations delivery, said: "We are sorry that fans heading to Wembley will have disrupted journeys on the bank holiday weekend. "Our engineers are carrying out upgrades to the overhead power lines which will make services more reliable and enable the introduction of EMR's new trains. "We are also installing new drainage and maintaining track."Engineering work like this is planned years in advance to coordinate dates, resources and people across the rail network."
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