Staff and fans of Ipswich Town football club have complained bitterly at an unannounced stunt to promote racist far-right Trump fan Nigel Farage. Farage published a promotional video for his politics filmed as he stood on the Portman Road pitch. The club then had insisted it is “apolitical” and denied “formally” inviting Farage to visit the club, but details that have emerged since refute the denial, showing that:

An associate of CEO Mark Ashton sent an invite to Nigel Farage
Farage was met by Marcus Nash, director of media and communications
Ashton and COO Luke Werhun had lunch with Farage
The club gifted Farage SIX ‘Farage 10’ shirts
Employees outside a select few were unaware of the stunt
Members of staff have made complaints

This is despite the club claiming they were ‘apolitical’ in a statement made on Wednesday.

Farage’s lunch was provided free – the latest in a long line of freebies provided to the racist bigot by wealthy and often foreign donors. He also failed to declare more than £380,000 in outside earnings within the legally-required timeframe.

Nigel Farage’s visit to Ipswich Town’s Portman Road stadium has prompted a significant social media backlash.

Ipswich insist Reform UK and Farage were not formally invited by the club … but The Athletic has been told a slightly different story.

@Dan_Sheldon_

Free to read… pic.twitter.com/ojBbQQRmH4

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) March 24, 2026

Club staff have complained and fans groups have expressed their outrage on social media. Supporters’ group Blue Action accused bosses of letting the club they love be:

egregiously exploited by a political figure for personal gain and those in charge seemingly allowing and even welcoming it … risk[ing] alienating large numbers of the fanbase and fomenting division.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

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