READING FC have apologised to two fans ejected from the Madejski Stadium for using bad language.

The supporters were told to leave their seats at half time during Reading’s 3–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

A complaint was made by a fellow fan and the pair, sitting in the Y19 section in the east stand, were thrown out by stewards.

But most fans sitting nearby appeared to back the ejected fans and could be heard jeering the stewards for going overboard.

An online petition was then launched by supporters calling on Reading FC to apologise, and around 700 signed up.

Yesterday Stadium Manager, Ray Booth, and HR & Customer Services Manager Jackie Evans met the two supporters to apologise for taking ‘the wrong course of action’ over the incident.

The fans accepted the apology and asked the club to pass on their own apologies to anyone offended by their language.

Reading FC statement in full:

Following the ejection of two supporters from the Y19 section of Madejski Stadium last Saturday, Ray Booth, Stadium Manager, and Jackie Evans, HR & Customer Service Manager/ Supporter Liaison Officer, carried out a full review of the circumstances surrounding the course of action that was taken that afternoon. Although there was evidence of foul language being used, it was not to such an extent that would normally result in supporters being asked to leave.

Ray and Jackie personally met the two supporters this evening and apologised for the wrong course of action being taken on the club’s part. Accepting the apology, the supporters have in turn asked that we pass on their apologies to anyone within that area of the stadium whom they may have offended with the use of their language.

We look forward to hearing the two fans cheering the players on at Madejski Stadium in the future and we have also invited them to be part of a continual review of our matchday procedures. We are pleased that STAR, Supporters Trust at Reading, have also agreed to play a part in the review.

As we said in our previous statement on Monday, we actually hope that Saturday’s course of events act as a catalyst for more noise at Madejski Stadium. We all want to lift the atmosphere at home and when fans get on their feet and encourage those around them, it really makes such a difference. Ultimately, we truly believe our fans can use Saturday as the springboard for something special.