Sheffield Wednesday fans protest at Thai embassy

By Gbam Godwin On Sep 5, 2025

Sheffield Wednesday fans protest at Thai embassy.

Sheffield Wednesday fans demonstrated outside the Thai embassy in London in protest of owner Dejphon Chansiri.

Supporters are urging the Thai businessman to sell the club, which is dealing with a number of financial challenges.

Alan Burgess of The London Owls accused Mr Chansiri of “gross mismanagement” and said the protest was his group’s “small contribution to what we hope will be a much bigger and wider-scale series of events, that will eventually get him out of our club”.

Mr Chansiri did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.

Ian Bennett, chairman of the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust, stated that the protest’s location was chosen to raise awareness of the issue in Thailand and within the Thai population.

“The turnout was fantastic. “The London lads organised it, and we brought our small contingent down,” he continued.

He claimed that Mr Chansiri was “dragging the community, and everyone, down with him”.

PA Media Black banner that says 'SWFC for sale - enough is enough' at the back of a stadium with red seats where numerous people sit

The English Football League (EFL) is now investigating the club’s financial concerns, which include late payments to HM Revenue and Customs, failure to pay transfer fees to rival clubs, and delayed wage payments to staff and players.

In recent weeks, fans have staged a series of protests and boycotts in an attempt to reduce Mr Chansiri’s club income and push him to sell up.

Despite cutting ticket costs to £15, the club’s unexpected victory over Leeds at Hillsborough last month drew less than 8,000 fans.

Last season, around 20,000 additional spectators attended a home game against the same opponents. Dandra Talton of the London Owls said the embassy demonstration was her first time attending.

Wednesday was “in her blood” because her father took her to Hillsborough as a child in 1962.

“I needed to be here. “What he’s doing to my club is despicable,” she said. During Mr Chansiri’s tenure, Wednesday lost about £200 million.

He previously acknowledged to turning down two bids to sell the club for £40 million and £30 million, claiming he was “willing to sell, but the deal must be correct on all fronts”.