Barry Bannan reacts as Sheffield Wednesday fans explain the tough decision to boycott the game against Leeds in the Carabao Cup.
Dom Howson said: “Back at Hillsborough. Gather 4,000 #SWFC fans have bought tickets for tonight’s Yorkshire derby. Many will be staying away and have only purchased tickets to gain priority points. 🦉⚽️”
These Sheffield Wednesday fans said the BBC Sheffield: “We are torn because we really do want to support the players, especially the young lads who’ll be playing. But I think boycotting supports them as well, makes them understand that we know the struggles they’re going through because of the lack of pay and everything else they’ve been through.
“It’s just horrendous and we feel so powerless. This is the only thing we can do. It’s a massive part of our life. Go home and away. We absolutely love it. You know, we’re watching it all the time. We’re listening to the radio all the time. It’s a massive part of our life. And this summer has been heartbreaking.”
Sheffield Wednesday fans are boycotting tonight’s game against Leeds! pic.twitter.com/WSO8oWhLuk
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) August 26, 2025
Here’s the scene at Hillsborough before a cup tie between #SWFC & #LUFC … I’d never have believed it if I wasn’t here to see it. pic.twitter.com/OQtRWLwKpW
— Alan Biggs (@AlanBiggs1) August 26, 2025
Empty! Boycott done right #lufc pic.twitter.com/2aWOrLcKIQ
— NJGLUFC (@njglufc) August 26, 2025
The interviewer asked how this fan felt with everything going on at the club at the moment, they replied: “Exact same as my mum said. The most sad thing is that, like she said before, we have it as our enjoyment.
“So we go to these away games and these home games and we see our friends and some people we see there that we wouldn’t see away from football.
“And if this was to all like come to an end, it just feels like we’d never see these people again. So it’s really upsetting because it’s like Sheffield Wednesday family.”
These Sheffield Wednesday fans have been telling us why they are boycotting the League Cup game against Leeds United.#SWFC | @footballheaven pic.twitter.com/52mxgY7GMx
— BBC Sheffield (@BBCSheffield) August 26, 2025
“It really is emotional.”
Ian Bennett, chair of the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust, on why fans are boycotting the game 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/5FWQGZTSEu
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 26, 2025
Was sat chatting with a group of Owls fans as the teams walked out.
Sight of a barren Hillsborough drew an audible groan. People want to be there, but feel they need to make a stand.
So-so turnout here, maybe a couple of hundred including those inside. But big passion.#SWFC🦉 pic.twitter.com/xIm5z1bxud
— Alex Miller (@AlexMiller91) August 26, 2025
The Wednesday ’Til I Die Podcast (@WTIDPOD) wrote: “Just a reminder that back in December 2024 we paid between £460 and £630 for a season ticket.
Since that point the club has:
– Terminated managers contract.
– Released/sold THIRTEEN players.
– Sold assets for way below market value.
– Paid player wages late for FOUR months.
– Paid staff wages late.
– Had a prohibition notice issued on the North Stand.
– Appointed a manager with limited backroom staff.
– Numerous embargos.
– Made NO new signings.
– Handed a four window transfer fee ban.
– EFL are preventing us from signing any players.
– We don’t have a professional goalkeeper.
– We only have NINE fit players in the squad over the age of twenty-one.
“And we we’re pressured into stumping up for the money just after Xmas and given just two weeks to do so with no prior warning.
“Viva Chansiri. Have I missed anything?”
Ahead of the general sale stage of the Carabao Cup fixture vs Leeds on 26th August, the Trust once again is calling for all fans to boycott the fixture in its entirety.
As an alternative, we hope that fans can either:
1. Donate the price of a matchday ticket to charity via… pic.twitter.com/y3wPyP0KF0
— Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust (@SWFCTrust) August 20, 2025
The SWFC Trust put plans to fans with a vote amongst members found that 84% were in favour of boycotting.
They said: “Following the uplifting cup win by our young team against Bolton, we asked members whether they wanted the boycott on spending money at SWFC to be extended to attending the Leeds game.
“82% of votes were in favour. In line with our members’ wishes, we are urging all Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust members not to attend this match in person and instead watch it on TV.
“The Trust has set up this GoFundMe for any fans who would have ordinarily attended the game to donate the ticket money to Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity instead:
“#NotAPoundInsideTheGround
“We recognise this is a big step to extend the boycott to match tickets, but the situation at the club continues to deteriorate. July’s salary payments were missed, our squad has been decimated, and there is still no visible progress towards a sale of the club.
“We also acknowledge that some Wednesday fans will still choose to attend the game, and we respect their decision to do so.
“Up the Owls #swfc”
They added an update on this protest on the 19th of August: “The Trust wishes to reaffirm its position on the upcoming Carabao Cup fixture against Leeds United. We strongly encourage supporters not to purchase tickets for this game.
“Our reasoning is clear: every ticket sold puts further money into the hands of an owner who has shown nothing but contempt for the fanbase and disregard for the long-term future of our club. We understand how painful it is to miss a fixture against a major rival, but sometimes sacrifice is needed for the bigger picture.
“Instead of contributing to a regime that has driven Sheffield Wednesday into crisis, we are asking supporters to consider donating the cost of their match ticket to charity. By doing so, we can turn what would have been a damaging act for our club into something positive for our wider community.
“This stance is not about walking away from Sheffield Wednesday. It is about protecting its future. The louder and more unified our actions, the harder it becomes for the man in power to ignore us.
“We call on every supporter to stand firm, make your voice heard, and demonstrate that together we are stronger. Your absence inside Hillsborough that night can be far more powerful than your presence.
“Black & Gold – Until We’re Sold. #SWFC #EnoughlsEnough”
🟡⚫️ Leeds Boycott Update #SWFC
Link to the GoFundMe for the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Appeal. 👇🏻 https://t.co/FOLcO7qSwJ pic.twitter.com/b0rGYoz8UA
— Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust (@SWFCTrust) August 19, 2025
Barry Bannan has opened up to talkSPORT on the support: “The away games have been unbelievable. We’ve really felt their support.
“Probably last season if we’d gone 2-0 down away it wouldn’t have been applause we were getting, I’m sure it would have been different.
“This season is going a bit different and when we walked off at half-time they were still right behind us and trying to galvanise us. We’re very thankful and very aware of that.
“If it has done something good, it has brought us and the fans closer together.”
On the fans’ planned boycott: “In pre-season it was hard with everything that was going on. We didn’t have many friendlies.
“As soon as that season starts you know the buzz you get from proper fixtures. It kind of takes all the noise away and you can concentrate on playing football again and being a footballer.
“I’m just glad the season has started, as are the rest of the lads.
“You hear a lot of noise going around on social media but that’s all as players we have seen – what everybody else is seeing. We’re just going in and doing our job, which is to try and get results for the football club.”
WHAT FARKE SAID PRE-MATCH:
Farke said per YEP: “I’ve heard about the situation surrounding this game. We are used to playing in buzzing away grounds at Championship level once Leeds United were showing up, and in sold-out stadiums – so perhaps it’s a bit of a new experience.
“Pre-season wasn’t too far away but I don’t expect it will be like a preseason game. I hope many of our supporters will travel and we will have proper support. We will see if they cheer their crowd up especially after a good result for them at league level… I don’t expect something more or less like Corona times in an empty stadium. We want to make sure we are there with a good performance and a good result, but we are also aware there is a competitive side who will try to use their momentum from Saturday.
On what he expects to face against the Owls, Farke added: “I expect a tough game. Especially for a side with a tough start to the season, quite often the cup provides an opportunity to generate a bit of momentum… On Saturday after being down 2-0 they showed great character to come back with a draw.
“I think they will also help the self-confidence and the spirit of the squad. They will try everything to build on this momentum and spirit with a win over a Premier League side. They still have many of last season’s squad who played a solid season at Championship level. So I expect a tough game.”
