Tan's 1,000 days without attending a Cardiff game

Vincent Tan's last appearance at the Cardiff City Stadium was in December 2023 [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Rishi Sunak was Prime Minster, Wham had their first Christmas number one song and Vincent Tan last attended a Cardiff City game. It was Boxing Day 2023 when the club's owner watched a 2-2 draw against Plymouth that left the Bluebirds two points from the Championship play-off places. A thousand days have since passed without further sight of a divisive and elusive character in the Welsh capital. When things go wrong on the pitch, such as relegation to League One in May 2025, the fans' anger is inevitably directed his way. Tan's absence has been criticised but without his money - he took over the club in 2010 - the club would surely struggle to even exist. On the day the Malaysian billionaire reaches the curious milestone, BBC Sport Wales examines his stewardship of the club. Colwill's 'surreal' Ronaldo and Haaland ambition Moylan double ends Cardiff's winless start against Charlton Plenty has happened over the past 1,000 days since Tan last turned up to a Cardiff match. The Bluebirds are onto their third permanent boss in that time having been relegated to the third tier before bouncing back with promotion the following year. A planned visit last season never materialised and a slow start in the Championship this season has been compounded by injuries and an inability to bring in new players on transfer deadline day. "It's not a good look when the owner himself doesn't turn up to see the team that he owns," said former captain Jason Perry, who played for the club for a decade between 1987 and 1997. "It's not good knowing the owner's not here but there's no infrastructure here to carry that. "Not only are we not seeing him, we're not hearing anything and that's the disappointment." There have been several fan protests against Vincent Tan since he became owner in 2010 [Getty Images] Keith Morgan, of the Cardiff City Supporters Trust and chair of the Fan Advisory Board, shares Perry's views. "It's the total lack of communication rather than lack of physical presence," he said. "He hasn't even communicated by way of a video message or an email. No messages on the club website. "One of my criticisms is that he hasn't got the right structure in place at senior level. "We don't have anyone with football knowledge on the board, which could have saved some excesses which cost him some money in the past." However, head coach Brian Barry-Murphy spent four weeks in Malaysia with Tan and his family during the summer after masterminding a return to the Championship. "His knowledge of the team and what we did last season was beyond what I expected. He doesn't miss a trick," said Barry-Murphy. "His messages to me are always the same. "I've not seen many people as busy as him, so I'm sure when he can, he'll be here, and when he does come, I'll be there for him." Tan has 'kept light on' at Cardiff Tan has been a divisive figure ever since becoming Cardiff owner in 2010. He sparked controversey among supporters when rebranded the club from blue to red in 2012, including a change to the club badge, before reversing the decision two and a half years later. However, he has also overseen and funded two promotions to the Premier League and managed the club's debt. "Over the course of the last decade the club has lost the thick end of £200m," said football finance expert Kieran Maguire. "That has been subsidised effectively by Vincent Tan. "Somebody's had to put their hand in their pocket every month to make sure the lights are kept on and the wages are paid. That person has been Tan." Vincent Tan converted £42m of debt into equity in June 2026 [Getty Images] In June he converted £42m of the club's debt to him into equity, nearly halving the amount Cardiff owes to its majority shareholder. That figure previously stood at almost £90m in the club's last accounts for the financial year ending 31 May 2025. Due to changes in the cost control rules this summer, Maguire explained, clubs are increasingly turning to benefactors and owners to cover losses by investing in shares, which are not repayable, rather than loans. "I would describe it as a bit like the bank of mum and dad," Maguire added. "A kid can never afford to pay money back, and as a dad you'll never ask for it back, but in theory it's a loan. That's what Vincent Tan has done. "It's commonplace, especially in the Championship because the average losses in that division are £400,000 a week. That money comes from the owners." Reaching the 1,000-day milestone may alarm some Cardiff fans, but is becoming more frequent in English football amid global ownership. Earlier this month, Blackburn Rovers co-owner Balaji Rao became the first member of the Venky's ownership group to attend a game at Ewood Park since 2018. Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour went nearly 13 years without attending a match while Everton owner Dan Friedkin has yet to go to a home game since completing a takeover of the club in December 2014 and has not spoken to David Moyes since he returned as manager. Latest Cardiff City news Listen to the latest Cardiff City interviews, news and discussion on BBC Sounds