Portsmouth FC defend face mask donations after fan backlash

The club had been criticsed by fans after a statement on the club’s website said that £1.25 from the sales of each masks, available for £10, would be donated to support the NHS Portsmouth Hospitals Charity.

Fans had questioned the price of the masks and the proportion being donated to the NHS.

However, the League 1 club have reassured fans they are not making any profit on the masks and that any additional money made is being used to support vulnerable people across the city during the pandemic.

A club spokesman said: ‘After production and distribution costs, along with tax, we are left with a net of £3.25 profit.

‘Of this money, £1.25 is being used to support the NHS and the remaining £2 is going to our charity, Pompey in the Community.

‘The money is being used to purchase additional food to help Pompey in the Community with their ongoing programme of providing food parcels to vulnerable people in Portsmouth who are having to isolate during the pandemic.’

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So far the sportswear company, Just Sport, has produced 500 face masks to be sold in the club shop from June 15 with two different designs available.

The sale of the face masks initially created an angry response among some fans on social media.

One fan tweeted: ‘Thanking the NHS by giving them £1.25 of a £10 item, poor showing’,

Another posted: ‘Come on Pompey, this is poor form. Our fans would happily purchase this item if they could see a decent amount of money was being donated to the NHS.’

The club hope that clarifying that any remaining profit is going to support its official charity conduct their work in the community will help allay supporters concerns.

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