'Serious error in judgement' - Sunderland forced to apologise as fans left fuming after club decorate bar in Newcastle slogans ahead of FA Cup clash

Ahead of their FA Cup match, Newcastle remodelled the Black Cats' £600 corporate section. With full support from Sunderland, the Geordies put up black and white signage and insignia inside the stadium to make supporters, executives, and business executives feel at home during the first Tyne-Wear derby in over eight years.

However, there was an uproar among fans and calls were made for the board to be fired when images of the Stadium of Light's interior, which had been changed from red and white to black and white, surfaced.

The Black Cats made an official apology to fans in a statement published earlier today: "Sunderland AFC acknowledges that a serious error in judgement was made in relation to Black Cats Bar earlier this afternoon."

"We apologise to our fans for the understandable concern they have fairly voiced in response and this sentiment is shared by the Club’s Ownership Group and Board of Directors, who have requested an immediate review is undertaken to determine how this process unfolded."

"A direct decision has also been taken by the Ownership Group and Board of Directors to return the space to its original state and we once again apologise to our supporters that this was not addressed sooner."

The fact that over 6,000 Newcastle supporters will be bussed to Wearside in a police escort and given their tickets on Saturday, taking up a whole end of the stadium, is sure to heighten the tension ahead of what looks set to be a feisty derby.

The club will host Newcastle United on Saturday, January 6 in the third round of the FA Cup in the first Tyne-Wear derby since 2016.