A Rangers fans’ chief has said the club’s supporters were not given a fair deal by Dundee United’s decision to charge admission for the replay of an abandoned fixture last November.
Giving evidence to a small claims court in Dundee, John McMillan, general secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association, said fans were “angry” at the decision not to offer a refund and charge half-price admission to the replayed match.
“I was not surprised that our fans were angry and dismayed by the decision to charge for the rearranged fixture,” he said. “I felt we were unfairly treated. We had only seen half a football match.”
Nithsdale Loyal Supporters Club is demanding an £800 refund from United-half the money its members spent on 66 tickets for the Scottish Premier League (SPL) game at Tannadice on November 1.
Spectators at the game, which was halted at half-time, were initially told to keep their ticket stubs, but they were angered when told entry for the match would be £12 for adults and £6 for concessions, regardless of whether or not original tickets had been retained.
The Rangers fans raised a small claim at Glasgow Sheriff Court before it was transferred to Dundee, where the case got under way before Sheriff Alistair Duff.
Mr McMillan (76) wrote to United chairman Stephen Thompson and SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster following the decision.
Mr Thompson replied the reduced pricing was a fair reflection of the operational costs and Mr Doncaster said it was “neither feasible nor reasonable” to offer a full refund due to the costs incurred.Full refund ‘unrealistic'”The club would have to incur a cost, but so do the supporters,” Mr McMillan said. “A full refund was maybe unrealistic, but I still think the Rangers supporters did not get a fair deal.”
Richard Cleary (39), secretary of the Nithsdale Loyal, said the game is not on the record books of either side, or of the SPL or Scottish Fooball Association (SFA).
He said ticketing arrangements should be the same as for a postponed match, where the original tickets are valid for the replay.
“The announcement was made that these tickets were worthless,” he said. “We were angry because we had paid our £25 and it meant nothing. I spent hard-earned money to buy a ticket to see the fulfilment of a fixture. We were denied that by the weather, then we were denied that by Dundee United.”
The chairman of the supporters’ club told the court they were not being unreasonable by demanding an £800 refund. William Montgomery (48) said, “We asked for a refund, then we asked for half a refund because Dundee United have costs. I don’t think we’re being unreasonable.”
A lawyer for United claimed legally they were not entitled to a refund. The case was adjourned until next Wednesday, September 22.