READING boss Ruben Selles fears the club will be hit with brutal punishment after a pitch invasion forced their game with Port Vale to be abandoned.
Spaniard Selles warned: “The implications are a points deduction, it can be that we play with an empty stadium for one, two games or even for the rest of the season.
“And financial punishment of course. It is a big variety of things and that will be for a panel of experts to decide.”
Selles, who had guided Reading through a run of one defeat in their previous eight matches, also acknowledged that the points for Saturday’s game could be awarded to Vale.
He added: “Am I sympathetic to the fans? I’m sympathetic with the fact that we all want the best for Reading Football Club.
“I’m sympathetic but really I want to play matches and win matches. I can understand the protests but my real focus is to make this group of players better.”
The crisis-hit Royals were dragged to a new low as around a thousand fans furious with owner Dai Yongge flooded on to the pitch in the 16th minute.
That echoed the 16 points the Royals have been deducted for breaching financial rules under the ownership of the Chinese businessman, who is reported to be trying to sell the club.
Reading, relegated from the Championship last season are now in the League One relegation zone, after being docked four of those 16 points this season.
Dozens of tennis balls had been thrown on to the pitch within ten seconds of kick-off, accompanied by chants of “We want Dai Yongge out.”
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Then came the real trouble as fans brandishing anti-Yongge banners and setting off flares swept past helpless stewards.
That demo appeared to fizzle out but then even more supporters stormed back on to occupy the centre of the pitch, with stewards standing shoulder to shoulder to protect the technical area and tunnel.
The invaders were warned by loudspeaker that the match would be abandoned unless they cleared the pitch.
An hour in, around 100 fans were still in the centre circle, surrounded by stewards, and the game was abandoned at 4.25pm.
This was the latest episode in a miserable new year for Reading.
Assistant boss Andrew Sparkes and director of player development Eddie Niedzwiecki left last week due to what Reading described as “ongoing financial challenges.”
The club are also poised to sell centre-backs Nelson Abbey, 20 and Tom Holmes, 23, to Premier League Luton, a move arranged without the knowledge of director football Mark Bowen and Selles.
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