Sunderland Football Club announced on Twitter that the club’s upcoming match versus Bristol Rovers was going to be rescheduled. The decision to reschedule was based on a few players earning international callups.
The news came with mixed reactions from fans, with many of whom the decision to postpone comes as a large inconvenience. For these supporters, there was no mention of ticket refunds, however many were more concerned with all the money spent on accommodations and travel.
What happens to the tickets we have bought then ?
— Ethan (@EthanOsafc) November 7, 2019
Absolutely no mention of ticket refunds
— Sunderland Tweets (@WearsideRoar) November 7, 2019
It would be highly advisable to SAFC to place a large warning on their website or something, for each game that falls in an international week, that the game is subject to postponement. Save people from booking hotels/tickets before the postponement announcement is made.
— David Glen (@DavidGl74220890) November 7, 2019
Most likely won’t be able to go now cause it will probleys be a school night
— Ethan (@EthanOsafc) November 7, 2019
We have more international postponements now than we did in the Prem. Absolute joke for 3 call ups to the bench Just stop postponing them. Ridiculous on the fans.
— Jordan_S (@JordanSt92) November 7, 2019
But other fans saw the value of rescheduling when the first choice keeper was set to be unavailable.
Feel for those who had bought tickets and sorted travel, but it would have been madness to go ahead with the game without a recognised senior goalkeeper available.
— GD Frank (@gdfrank80) November 7, 2019
One keeper is away on international duty and the other is injured so unless we could get an emergancy loan for kyle walker i think its a very sensible decision
— Tom (@thomasburn1) November 7, 2019
Why are people annoyed? We have lost 1 GK and the other might not be fit. Makes sense to postpone it rather than having a 3rd choice kid in goal.
— Andrew Tonge (@tongey93) November 7, 2019
I have tickets and flights booked and I think it’s the correct decision to postpone the match. Although I can’t understand why it’s taken the club so long to announce it.
— Marcus Robson (@MarcusRobson2) November 7, 2019
2/2 from the clubs point of view a long midweek trip stuffed in between other fixtures later in the season can’t be good. Must have been a close call with only the GK position really an issue given Flanagan not in team and C McLaughlin suspended anyway!
— Ian chester (@Ianc1102) November 7, 2019
One fan is just concerned about the fixture pileup that the club are bound to face later on in the season.
Correct decision but will leave us with 3 games in hand. If we have a bad winter weather wise we may have other matches to arrange. Starting to look like last season when playing catch up cost us.
— kevin defty (@kevindefty1) November 7, 2019
What do we think?
Logistically, rescheduled matches are always going to be a pain for supporters. There is a fine line between making the best decision for the team’s chances of winning and doing what is best for your fans. On this occasion, however, Sunderland seems to have one foot on each side of that line. One thing is for certain; to make his worthwhile, they have to win.