Sheffield Wednesday's match against Coventry City was suspended on Saturday lunchtime when home supporters flooded onto the pitch at Hillsborough.
The Championship fixture had barely reached the 10th minute when dozens of fans breached the barriers at the edge of the pitch and ran onto the grass.
Their target was clear - protesting against club owner Dejphon Chansiri, whose controversial reign has pushed supporters to breaking point.
The referee had no choice but to suspend play as up to 50 protesters made their way onto the pitch.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
For roughly five minutes, the match was held while security staff worked to clear the pitch and restore order.
This wasn't a spontaneous outburst - it was a coordinated demonstration. A protest group calling themselves ‘OwlsOnThePitch' had announced their plans on social media that morning, urging fans to show "strength" and "unity" at the 10-minute mark.
Sheffield Wednesday's match against Coventry City was halted on Saturday lunchtime when home supporters flooded onto the pitch at Hillsborough
|X
"One man is to blame for the unacceptable treatment of the players and staff at the club we love and today we stand up to him," their statement read. "10th minute. Owls on the pitch."
Those who stayed in their seats joined the protest in their own way, chanting "Dejphon Chansiri, get out of our club" as stewards dealt with the pitch invaders.
The fans were protesting the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri
|X
The roots of Saturday's dramatic scenes run deep. Players at the club recently learned they wouldn't receive their September wages on time - and this isn’t the first time that has happened.
Staff and players had already faced delayed payments in May, June and July.
Dejphon Chansiri acquired Sheffield Wednesday for an estimated £150million in 2015 | PAThese financial troubles have led to serious consequences. The club has been hit with multiple transfer embargoes, leaving them unable to strengthen their squad in the market.
After this summer, the restrictions will remain in place for the next two transfer windows.
Making matters worse, the local council ordered the closure of a stand at Hillsborough, deeming it unsafe for purpose.
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
Fans have responded with boycotts that have significantly impacted the club's finances and even staged a demonstration outside the Thai Embassy in London last month.
Team captain Barry Bannan - who signed a new contract at the club this summer despite the chaos - and Liam Palmer approached the protesters who had gathered in the centre circle, speaking directly with their own supporters.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
These Sheffield Wednesday fans have seriously been let down here…
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) October 4, 2025
Those lads will get bans now, why aren’t the other Wednesday fans getting behind the protest? #SWFC pic.twitter.com/E0ya2uT1oq
Owls boss Henrik Pedersen also made his way onto the pitch during the stoppage.
Coventry's players and coaching staff left the field entirely whilst officials handled the situation.
Despite the disruption, the demonstration remained peaceful throughout, with protesters eventually cooperating as stewards guided them away from the playing area.
Once the pitch was cleared, both teams returned and the match resumed. The protest had clearly achieved its aim by drawing national attention to the ongoing crisis at Hillsborough under Chansiri's ownership.