Newcastle United have confirmed that Sunderland will receive 2,528 tickets for the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park, despite earlier guidance from the Wearsiders suggesting their allocation had been reduced. Sources at Newcastle have told Chronicle Live that the number of seats for visiting fans will remain unchanged from last season.
Sunderland had stated yesterday that they would receive an allocation of 2,200 tickets, but Newcastle sources have insisted this was not accurate. The Black Cats are unhappy that the fixture will be a 'bubble fixture', with Sunderland fans not allowed to travel independently to St James' Park due to skirmishes on Barrack Road last season.
Fan group reaction
Wor Flags posted last night: "The away derby allocation for both clubs being reduced again on top of last year’s reduced allocation is absolutely pathetic."
"Whoever is responsible for this decision should be ashamed. We’ve seen the impact of reduced away allocations in Glasgow. No fan should want that here."
The club said for the cup game in 2024 that it did not expect the imposed conditions of that fixture to set a precedent for future league games. After just two games between the teams and little incident, this is a slap in the face to the supporters, and done without fan dialogue. This is a huge step back.
Sunderland's statement
Sunderland reacted with their own statement following the decision from the independent Safety Advisory Group, which consists of calls from Northumbria Police and Newcastle City Council. A Sunderland statement read: "Following a decision by Newcastle’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG), Sunderland AFC can confirm that supporters attending our PL away fixture against Newcastle United will be required to travel by organised coach."
"Throughout this process, the Club has engaged with the relevant authorities, setting out clearly our concerns about the impact of a full bubble operation on Sunderland supporters, particularly the restrictions on individual travel choices and the additional inconvenience for supporters."
"Whilst we do not agree with the decision that has been reached, we recognise that this decision will disappoint many supporters who would prefer to make their own travel arrangements. While respecting the SAG’s decision, we have sought clarity on the revised risk assessment and requested transparency as to how the end decision has been made."
Newcastle's response
A Newcastle statement had read: "Sunderland supporters attending the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park on Sunday, December 6, 2026, will be required to travel to and from Wearside on official club coaches following a recommendation by the stadium’s independent Safety Advisory Group (SAG)."
The recommendation follows advice from Northumbria Police to the SAG, which is chaired by Newcastle City Council as the Certifying Authority for St. James’ Park. Both clubs were invited to attend a recent SAG meeting to hear submissions made by Northumbria Police, and senior Newcastle United staff have since met with senior officers from the force to better understand the reasons behind the recommendation.
"We know that the vast majority of fans from both clubs are impeccably behaved and add a great deal to the occasion, and we also acknowledge that this step has been taken as an additional measure to ensure the safety of all supporters, staff, the authorities and the wider public."
"We will now work closely with Sunderland AFC, Northumbria Police, Newcastle City Council and partner agencies to accommodate this recommendation and to ensure the match is a safe experience for everyone who attends." Further details on tickets will be shared by both clubs in due course.
"This recommendation does not impact away supporter travel for the return fixture at the Stadium of Light in May 2027, and any relevant recommendations will be made by the local Safety Advisory Group closer to that time."
