WATCH: Furious fans interrupt Reading's game against Port Vale after 16 minutes with mass pitch invasion to protest against club's ownership

Thousands of Reading fans ran onto the pitch demanding owner Dai Yongge sels the club. The game had to be suspended on the 16 minute mark with fans refusing to return to the stands. The Reading fans received support from opposition supporters who joined in calls for Yongge to leave the club. The side were relegated from the Championship last season and are fighting relegation again - under Yongge's ownership the club appear to be in freefall.

The Royals' owner has been in charge of the club since purchasing 75 per cent of the shares in May 2017 and has overseen a period of complete turmoil. With the club driven into financial and administrative chaos, Reading were relegated to League One last season - making it the first time in over two decades they would compete in the third tier of English football. Protests against Yongge have been ongoing for a considerable time, with the pressure group 'Sell Before We Dai' created to try and save Reading from their turbulent ownership.

The club asked for fans to return to the pitch and tweeted a statement. It read: "We are fully aware of and understand our supporters’ frustrations, but we must reiterate to our supporters that entering or throwing items onto the pitch can put the fixture at risk of abandonment and can result in personal consequences including banning orders. Thank you for your support today."

Unfortunately for their fans, it is hard to know what is next for Reading. So long as the club is owned by Yongge, Reading fans will not know what the future holds for their beloved club, with many fearing the worst. It is likely protests will only increase in size and regularity until Yongge sells the club - a sale which appears a necessity for the club's survival.