The English Football League (EFL) confirmed on 21 March 2025 that Reading owner Dai Yongge had been disqualified under its Owners’ and Directors’ Test. The requirement was that he divest his interests in the club. If he failed to do so, the EFL said it could consider regulatory options, including suspension; that was a possible consequence, not a suspension shown to have happened in the reporting available here.
The deadline changed from 4 April to 22 April and then to 5 May 2025. On 22 April, the BBC reported that Reading and an unnamed buyer had agreed terms, but that did not establish that the sale completed. The sources cited below do not verify the final outcome after 5 May or Reading’s ownership status as of 8 October 2026.
What the EFL’s disqualification meant
Disqualification and divestment were related but distinct steps. The EFL’s March 2025 statement said Yongge had been disqualified under its Owners’ and Directors’ Test and that this required him to divest his interests in Reading. The league said that if he did not do so within the agreed timeframe, it would consider the options available under its regulations.
The EFL’s wording, reported by the BBC on 21 March 2025, was: “The disqualification requires Mr Yongge to divest his interests in the club, and in the event that he fails to do so within the agreed timeframe, the League will consider all options available within its regulations to bring the matter to a conclusion.”
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What could happen if the divestment requirement was not met?
Suspension was among the possible regulatory outcomes discussed at the time. The BBC reported on 3 April 2025 that the EFL could suspend a club if a director failed to meet disqualification requirements. The league clarified that a suspended club would be unable to fulfil league matches while remaining an EFL member at that point. The EFL board had discretion over the terms of any suspension.
That distinction matters: the reporting describes suspension as a potential response, not an action that had already been imposed. It does not establish that disqualification automatically meant expulsion, dissolution or a points deduction.
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How the deadlines and proposed sale developed
| Date | What was reported | What it established |
|---|---|---|
| 21 March 2025 | The EFL confirmed Yongge’s disqualification and required him to divest his interests. The initial deadline reported by the BBC was 4 April. | A confirmed disqualification and a divestment requirement, not a completed sale. |
| 27 March 2025 | Reading said it remained in close dialogue with the EFL and intended to avoid suspension. The club said Yongge was committed to divesting and that suspension was among the EFL’s regulatory options. | The club’s stated position, not a guarantee about the outcome. |
| 3 April 2025 | The BBC reported that the deadline had been extended to 22 April. | An extension of the time to meet the requirement. |
| 22 April 2025 | The BBC reported that Reading and an unnamed buyer had agreed terms and that the deadline had been extended to 5 May. The proposed deal reportedly included Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park. | Agreement on terms, not proof that the takeover completed. |
The reporting does not establish what happened after the 5 May 2025 deadline. It therefore cannot confirm whether the proposed sale completed, who owns Reading now, or what the EFL’s subsequent regulatory status decision was. Those points require current verification rather than inference from the reported agreement.
Why the earlier funding case is separate
The 2025 disqualification followed a prior EFL dispute about funding. In a statement on 15 January 2024, the league said it had sought Yongge’s disqualification in November 2023 after a failure to fund a deposit account for player and staff salaries. An independent disciplinary commission rejected disqualification and imposed a financial sanction. The EFL later said he had missed a funding deadline and put the total fines at £80,000 at that point.
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That earlier commission decision and financial sanction were part of the 2024 funding matter; they should not be confused with the EFL’s later confirmation of disqualification in March 2025. In its January 2024 statement, the EFL urged Yongge to “fund the Club adequately or to make immediate arrangements to sell his majority shareholding to appropriate new owners.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is—and is not—established about Reading’s outcome
- Established: On 21 March 2025, the EFL confirmed Yongge had been disqualified under its Owners’ and Directors’ Test and required him to divest his interests.
- Possible at the time: The EFL could consider regulatory options, with suspension reported as one possibility if requirements were not met.
- Not established by the dated reports cited here: Whether the proposed buyer completed the takeover, what happened after 5 May 2025, or Reading’s present ownership and EFL status.
For context only, Reading MP Matt Rodda said in a House of Commons debate on 28 April 2025 that the club holds the record for the most points scored in a Championship season, with 106. That historical achievement does not explain or determine the EFL’s decision about Yongge.
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