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Nigel Farage's Ipswich Town antics spark fury as old comments slammed

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage sparked backlash after posing with an Ipswich Town football shirt during a stadium tour ahead of a political rally in the town

[BISHOPTON, SCOTLAND - MARCH 19: Nigel Farage MP for Clacton and Leader of Reform UK arrives on stage to deliver a speech at Ingliston Country Club and Hotel on March 19, 2026 in Bishopton, Scotland. Reform UK is projected to make a significant breakthrough in the upcoming May 2026 Scottish Parliament election. Recent polls show them as a major contender for the role of the principal opposition party overtaking Labour. Under the leadership of former Conservative minister Lord Offord, the party is currently polling between 18% and 20%, potentially securing between 17 and 22 seats. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)]

Nigel Farage has sparked backlash in Ipswich(Image: Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images)

Nigel Farage has triggered fury after being photographed at Ipswich Town's Portman Road on Monday, holding one of the club's jerseys. The Reform MP has previously argued that football and politics should stay apart, but he took the chance to visit the Tractor Boys' ground before a political gathering to kick off the party's local election drive.

Farage is understood to have booked himself onto a stadium tour and has subsequently shared images of himself holding an Ipswich Town shirt. Sharing a series of photographs on X, the 61-year-old quipped: "I've never been too bad on the right wing."

The political figure also uploaded a video, declaring: "Best of luck to Ipswich Town Football Club for the rest of the season." The footage featured Farage suggesting he was amongst the candidates for the Ipswich manager's position.

[Farage at Ipswich]

Nigel Farage attended Portman Road(Image: X)

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"A big end to the season for Ipswich, they're in contention to go back to the Premier League and let's hope they do. But if they don't I think there's a chance, and I've had a chat with a few people, on the manager's job coming up next season and I'm definitely on the shortlist. Trouble is, there's only one job I'm really after."

One fan branded the photograph as 'absolutely sickening', whilst another supporter, writing on the TWTD fans' forum, said they were "disgusted and embarrassed" that Reform had been permitted to use the club's facilities.

However, others emphasised that Farage had made a commercial booking for the tour and that the club found itself in a tricky situation. It was noted that the Championship outfit could either honour the reservation and upset some fans or cancel it and risk being dragged into the spotlight by Reform's complaints about cancel culture.

[Nigel Farage pose]

Farage had fun at Portman Road(Image: X/Nigel Farage)

It is believed that Ipswich made no formal invitation to Reform Party leader Nigel Farage to arrange a photo opportunity and Portman Road Events, which handles private stadium tours, is thought to have accepted a booking. Nevertheless, the complete scope of what was intended wasn't revealed to the club until social media posts appeared on the party's official account.

Monday also witnessed Farage being forced to call off a walkabout in Felixstowe. The Reform chief had planned to stroll along the seafront, but with demonstrators present and chanting, a spokesperson confirmed the event was scrapped following security guidance. A Reform rally at Trinity Park Conference and Events Centre also attracted a number of protesters, but the event was oversubscribed. An additional room was needed, with an estimated 300 people unable to squeeze into the main hall.

A protest organised by Ipswich Stand Up To Racism saw anti-racist groups, community activists and trade unionists assemble outside. They claimed that locals wanted to give Reform a "resounding unwelcome" and demonstrate that "Ipswich is a multicultural town that rejects Reform's anti-migrant racism."

Dean Ryan from Ipswich Stand Up To Racism stated: "Beyond their racist rhetoric around migrants, Farage and Reform want to make ordinary people pay for healthcare, driving the last nail in the coffin of the NHS."

Farage's appearance at Portman Road follows Reform's launch of their own football shirt. The party has created a top in Reform UK blue, featuring the party's logo and a Union Jack, with shirts autographed by Farage fetching a higher price.

In both cases, critics have highlighted the MP had previously suggested football and politics should remain separate. Speaking in 2021, Farage expressed his desire for the two spheres not to be linked.

"Gareth Southgate is out of touch with England fans," he declared. "They have a right to boo when players take the knee for Marxist BLM. Let's keep politics out of football this summer."

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