Supporters' Association: Fans should be offered refunds for BCD games

The Football Supporters’ Association has said that Sunderland fans should be offered refunds if games are played behind closed doors.

The FSA is the leading supporters group in England and Wales, campaigning for fans on various issues.

They have been in dialogue with the Red & White Army supporter group after the club’s controversial announcement earlier this week. Sunderland told fans that should the remaining three home games this season be played without supporters, they would be offered a streaming pass rather than a refund.

They also said that there would be no option for a partial refund or alternative voucher.

This also applies to anyone who chooses to renew their card for next season, should that campaign begin behind closed doors.

The proposals have been met with significant criticism from supporters, with the Red & White Army saying on Wednesday that they shared the ‘disappointment, frustration and disillusionment’.

On Thursday night, they said in a tweet that the FSA had advised that they would take the issue up with the EFL in any situation where refunds are not offered for behind-closed doors-games.

“The Football Supporters’ Association say clubs should offer refunds to fans if games are played behind closed doors,” they said.

“The FSA will raise the issue with the relevant league where this doesn’t happen. Lawyers who work with the FSA have said season ticket holders should be entitled to refunds for games behind closed doors.”

Sunderland CEO Jim Rodwell has said that the club could consider changing the policy. He also said that it was ‘rational’ for supporters not torenewonthetermsoffered, and that the proposals put in place would ensure that no one is penalised for not doing so.

It remains unclear whether there will be any recourse for any supporter who had already renewed and paid in full before the club’s announcement. The FSA have recently given their backing to a plan co-authored by Sunderland co-owner Charlie Methven, who has called for the government to lead a bailout of EFL clubs that could eventually lead to partial fan ownership. In response, the Secretary of State for DCMS Oliver Dowden said football should first ‘look after itself ’.