Ipswich: Keith Wyness says if Nigel Farage’s Portman Road appearance was ‘officially endorsed’
Ipswich Town don’t appear to have officially endorsed Nigel Farage after photos have emerged online of the Reform Party leader at Portman Road.
That is according to former Everton, Aston Villa and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, who exclusively told Football Insider that takes the heat out of the situation for the Championship club.
The Independent reported on Tuesday (24 March) Portman Road Events, which manages private tours of the stadium, took on a booking on behalf of Reform for Monday afternoon (23 March).
However, the newspaper revealed the Tractor Boys were unaware of the full extent of the event until photos emerged on social media.
Farage posted photos of him holding up an Ipswich no.10 shirt with his name on the back, adding the captain “I’ve never been too bad on the right wing”.
What Nigel Farage photos mean for Ipswich
Farage has previously argued politics and football should be kept apart despite his appearance at Portman Road.
The Clacton MP was in Suffolk for the launch of Reform’s local elections campaign in the area.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Wyness discussed the fallout around Farage’s appearance at Portman Road.
“From what I can see, it seems to have been a stadium tour without an official endorsement from the club,” said Wyness.
“Now, that takes the heat out of it considerably. If it had been the club officially endorsing him and the chief executive standing together with him and holding shirts, that’s a completely different thing.
“The stadium tour is a public event, so really anyone can go in and take those photos on a stadium tour.”
Ipswich fans would have ‘right to attack’ if Farage endorsed
Wyness insisted the matter would have been different had Ipswich officially endorsed Farage and Reform’s campaign.
“I don’t really see it as an endorsement by the club, which is a completely different thing,” said Wyness.
“If that was the case, if the club were to endorse political figures, fans would have every right to attack.
“But what they should look at is, that somebody has paid for the stadium tour and more revenue has gone to the club.”
Ipswich are in the race for promotion back to the Premier League this season, with Kieran McKenna’s side sitting third in the Championship table.
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