Club insists it is apolitical after Farage visit

Ipswich Town FC says it is an apolitical club after a visit by Nigel Farage that led to a backlash from some of its supporters.

The Reform UK leader visited the club's Portman Road stadium on Monday, with Farage posing for the camera with personalised shirts.

The Clacton MP told reporters he had "received an invitation from Ipswich, who knew I was in the area" – but earlier the club had said the visit "had not followed an official invitation".

The episode sparked a fierce debate among fans, with one telling the BBC he was disappointed to see the club "used as a political football".

Pictures shared by Reform on social media showed Farage posing with an Ipswich home shirt with his surname and the number 10 on the back.

The photographs were taken both at pitchside and in the home dressing room, where the players' shirts were removed and replaced by Farage's.

In a social media post afterwards, Farage said: "I've never been too bad on the right wing."

The Tractor Boys earlier said Farage had booked a private stadium tour – an option it said was open to any member of the public.

In a statement, it said it had "hosted representatives from a range of political parties" over several years and "does not support or endorse any individual or party".

It added: "The club will continue to engage with representatives from across the political spectrum as part of its role within the community.

"Ipswich Town is proud to be an inclusive, diverse and welcoming organisation that supports all members of the local and wider community. This commitment remains unchanged."

Daniel King, a supporter of the Tractor Boys for 40 years, told the BBC the club's response to the anger from some fans had been "limp".

He said: "It seems very problematic to me. It seems like the club has been blindsided, and I expected better from them.

"If you are a club that is promoting and priding itself on inclusivity then why welcome an approach from a divisive character like Farage?

"Clubs can issue nice statements about inclusivity, but this is a real test of it in practice.

"It's been a wonderful period off the pitch and the club has reconnected the town with its support base in a really positive way, but this is a big test of that."

A fellow Ipswich Town fan, who did not wish to be named, said: "I'm very disappointed. Football and politics shouldn't mix in general.

"It wouldn't matter to me if it was Reform or Green or Labour... it shouldn't be happening. [Politics] divides supporters. It's a bad move from the club."

The club's LGBTQ+ fan group, Rainbow Tractors, said: "The sightings of Reform being welcomed into the stadium sadden and anger us. Quite frankly, we feel let down by our club."

It added: "The club may have hosted other political parties in the past, but only Reform have actively used the club as part of their campaign."

The BBC has asked Ipswich Town to confirm whether it was made aware the politician would pose for photos with personalised Tractor Boys home shirts and to confirm if the shirts were bought by Reform on the day of the visit.

The club has also been asked to comment on why Farage was able to pose with personalised shirts in the club's dressing room.

Speaking to reporters at a campaign event in Leeds, Farage said: "I received an invitation from Ipswich, who knew I was in the area doing a big event.

"As Ipswich [Town] Football Club have said... they have invited in the past political leaders from all different shades of party and the only reason this is becoming a story is because of the left-wing mob on X and elsewhere that attack literally everything I do and anybody associated with it.

"It's frankly ridiculous."

In a separate social media post, Ipswich's East Anglian rivals Norwich City appeared to mock the Tractor Boys by taking an opportunity to promote their own stadium tours, stating "terms and conditions will most definitely apply".

Responding to the Norwich City post, Farage said: "See you next week!"

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