Sunderland fans will have to travel on official coaches for the Tyne-Wear derby later this year

Sunderland supporter groups have labelled the decision to enforce 'bubble arrangements' on fans for the Tyne-Wear derby later this year as an 'absolute disgrace'.

The Black Cats have also seen their allocation cut for a second successive fixture for the game, with just 2,200 set to go on sale to the club's supporters. The fixture was confirmed for Sunday, 6th December earlier today and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Newcastle United released a statement confirming that their Safety Advisory Group had made the decision on the recommendation of Northumbria Police to return to a bubble arrangement, which means that any Sunderland fan attending the game will have to travel to and from St James' Park

Sunderland have since released a statement saying that they did not agree with the decision and that they have sought additional transparency on the reasons behind the decision. A statement from the Red & White Army supporter trust and the Branch Liaison Council said fans had not been consulted on the decision which must now be changed. They said the decision penalised the overwhelming majority of fans who simply wanted to support their team.

"The decision to enforce a 'bubble trip' arrangement onto the upcoming derby match is an absolute disgrace," the statement said.

"The decision has been made behind closed doors, and with no transparency and consultation with fans. The Red & White Army Supporters Trust and Branch Liaison Council (BLC) are fundamentally opposed to this. Recent fixtures at both St James' Park and the Stadium of Light were delivered successfully, with Northumbria Police confirming that operations passed largely 'without incident' and praising the conduct of the overwhelming majority of supporters. Therefore, the decision to designate this season's fixture as a 'bubble match' raises important question that must be answered. Given that recent fixtures have been safely and successfully managed, authorities must explain and provide evidence as to why these draconian fixtures have been introduced this season. The overwhelming majority of fans attending this fixture, and football matches in general, are law-abiding people whose only aim is to watch a football club and support their club. Measures introduced to address the actions of a tiny minority should not penalise the thousands of fans who have committed no crimes and consistently behave responsibly.

"We therefore call on the SAG, Northumbria Police and NUFC to provide greater transparency for these arrangements and to engage meaningfully with supporter representatives. This decision must be reversed.

"The Red & White Army supporters trust and the BLC fully supports proportionate measures to ensure the safety of supporters, staff, police officers and the wider public. The fixture is a showcase for the passion and rivalry that makes north east football special and should be managed appropriately. This is not it."

Sunderland said in a statement that they were disappointed with the decision but work with supporter groups to make the day as 'straightforward as possible' for fans.

The statement reads: "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.

"Sunderland AFC will receive an allocation of 2,200 tickets. The Club is working to confirm coach pick-up points and will share further details, alongside ticketing and travel information, as soon as possible. Specific arrangements will be made for supporters with accessibility requirements. Supporters without tickets are strongly advised not to travel to Newcastle on the day of the fixture. We are exploring options to enable fans to watch the match at the Stadium of Light and will provide further information once arrangements have been confirmed.

"We will continue to work closely with our fan groups through the Supporter Collective to ensure supporters’ concerns are represented and considered across all aspects of the decision, including travel, ticketing and other matchday arrangements. Despite the outcome, we remain committed to making the process as straightforward as possible and delivering an enjoyable and memorable experience for all supporters attending the fixture."

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Newcastle United’s statement in full

Newcastle United said the decision would have no impact on the return fixture, and it remains to be seen whether Sunderland will follow suit in cutting the allocation on offer to away supporters.

Their statement in full said: "Sunderland supporters attending the Tyne-Wear derby at St. James’ Park on Sunday 6th December 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."

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