Blackburn Rovers fans opt for nearby local non league games in boycott protest planned for the upcoming fixture against Watford.
The Blackburn Rovers Supporters Coalition, a group representing multiple fan organisations, have called for a boycott of the home match against Watford on January 24th.
This is part of a protest against the long-term ownership by Venky’s (the Rao family), which fans accuse of 15 years of neglect, disconnection, lack of ambition, poor communication, and mismanagement.
Saturday 24th Jan
AFC Darwen V Maine Road
Chorley V DarlingtonStay away from Ewood. Send a clear message.
Spend your money where it is appreciated. pic.twitter.com/m48iASOKfp— Blackburn Rovers Supporters Coalition (@BRFCCoalition) January 15, 2026
TIME TO MAKE A STAND #Rovers pic.twitter.com/Gn2j2fTcDT
— Blackburn Rovers Supporters Coalition (@BRFCCoalition) January 13, 2026
Blackburn Rovers Supporters Coalition said: “For 150 years, Blackburn Rovers Football Club has been the beating heart of our community. Built by workers, carried by generations, passed from parent to child.
“Ewood Park isn’t just bricks and seats, it’s memory, it’s identity, it’s our home. 150 years in the making, 135 years of pride and 15 years of shame. Not because of relegations, not because of defeats.
“Football has always had highs and lows, but because of neglect, silence, disconnection. Because a club with our history has been allowed to drift, while those who care most are ignored.
“This is not about players, this is not about the manager, this is about the badge on the shirt and what it represents. This is about ownership that refuses to listen.
“A club run at arm’s length, with no vision, no ambition and no respect for the people who built it. We’ve marched, we’ve written letters, we’ve asked questions, we’ve waited patiently and still nothing changes. So now we face a painful truth.
“Sometimes the only way to be noticed is to be absent. On January 24th, when Watford come to Ewood Park, we are asking you not to turn away from your club, but to stand up for it. We know what this asks of you.
“Football is more than 90 minutes, it’s routine, it’s friendship, it’s escapism. We understand the sacrifice, we don’t dismiss it, we respect it.
“The only voice left to us now is whether we turn up or whether we don’t. This is not a protest of hate, it is an act of love.
“A message that says we care too much to stay silent, we care too much to pretend everything is fine. If you bleed blue and white, if you believe Blackburn Rovers deserves better, if you want change, then this is the moment.
“Stay away from Ewood, make the silence impossible to ignore. Not forever, just long enough to be heard. 150 years in the making, 135 years of pride and 15 years of shame.
“January 24th, Blackburn Rovers vs. Watford. For the future of our club, vote with your feet.”
They tweeted: “Our open letter has been ignored. The club continues to suggest dissenting voices are a minority, yet supporters have been given no meaningful way to show otherwise. Many fans are uncomfortable with in-ground protests, but still want change.
“A boycott is the clearest way to show real numbers. It is not primarily intended to have a financial impact. If enough supporters stay away, the strength of feeling becomes impossible to dismiss. That message must be recognised, and the open letter must finally be answered.
“What happens next depends entirely on the success of the boycott. Every empty seat is a vote of no confidence in Pasha and the Rao family. Season ticket holders, it is not about them already having your money. It is a peaceful, measured way to be heard.
“This is stage 1 of a strategic plan, it’s effectiveness rests on boycotts success. Please share this message calmly and respectfully. Fact we have reached this point lies solely with the owners and their representatives. We are stronger together, unity is our greatest strength.”
Suhail Pasha believes those of us wanting change are in the minority. Head is buried in the sand.He refuses to listen. Show him you want change by staying away. You’re not turning your back on the team, you are standing up for your club.Your chance to make a difference#Rovers pic.twitter.com/vq1PlH2sfM
— Blackburn Rovers Supporters Coalition (@BRFCCoalition) January 14, 2026
Blackburn fan group issue open letter to owners and urge supporters to boycott home games
Social media users gave their reaction as Blackburn fans opt for non league games in boycott protest planned for the upcoming Watford fixture…
@chorleyawaydays: We have received lots of messages from Rovers fans who are attending Chorley FC on this day , it would be great to get you down hopefully you’ll enjoy a day at the footy again ⚽🍻 #Rovers
@tonybainbridge1: IMO, it would make a bigger impact if you’d chosen 1 fixture. The ideal game would be the Darwen game, those boycotting could meet at Ewood at 1.30ish greet the players as they arrive then walk up the road as a group wearing Rovers colours/banners to the Anchor ground.
@NYCRovers: You want Venkys Out. Pasha is telling the owners and press that only a small percentage of fans feel this way. We are asking for a small sacrifice to send the message, to have truth represented. Please do not go to the Watford game.
@MattGregzy: Everyone should get behind this… I’m actually disgusted at the amount of people who are blind to it and think continuously spending their hard earned cash down on the concourse is the answer… baffling beyond belief 🤦♂️
@TheBazGaz: Those attending shouldnt be criticised – its never going to be a 100% effective. We need to accept some people will attend. The key is that 95% of the fanbase want Venkys to go. Boycotting is about making a statement together. #venkysout #Rovers We need to unite around this.
@lynseywales: It feels like no coincidence to me that the decline of the Club seems to have happened in parallel with a decline in the actual town. The soul has left over the last 15/20 years. Maybe a productive alternative activity for fans would be to do something positive in the town centre
@SWFCTrust: We know this pain all too well. Clubs like Wednesday and Blackburn were built by working-class communities, passed down through generations and are not simply business assets. When owners ignore supporters, they rip the soul out of a club. Full solidarity with Rovers fans, this is bigger than any one team. Football has an ownership problem. #swfc #rovers
@mattmadon: The time is now. Over 10,000 fans have walked away already, only about 8000 hardcore left. Time for the remaining 8000 to vote with their feet too and get these absolute parasites out of our club. #EnoughIsEnough
@KatieTKSFTBL: It’s time to stand up and make your feelings clear. As a fan, I’d love nothing more than a well run club. Instead, we’ve had 15 years of shame, embarrassment and the list goes on…
@OwlinSurrey: like @ReadingFC and yourselves we had a disastrous owner the damage he created is still manifesting now & courtesy of the @EFL sanctions will for a season or 2 yetI’m not on the board of our @SWFCTrust so don’t know if you have liaised with #swfc Fans for advice?
