THE SDLP has criticised plans to spend £15,000 on a Celtic 'fanzone' at a west Belfast pub as a "gross misuse of ratepayers' money".
The fanzone facility will be held at the Devenish complex for Celtic supporters to watch the team's Champions League clash against Linfield at Windsor Park.
Celtic opted against taking its ticket allocation for this evening's game, which was moved from July 11 amid PSNI security concerns.
The fanzone was proposed at a recent West Belfast Police and Community Safety Partnership (PSCP) meeting and was supported at a city hall sitting.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, the public funding is expected to be granted despite attempts to overturn the decision.
Unionist councillors branded it a "complete waste of money", but Sinn Féin councillor Matt Garrett told the paper it was "about creating a secure environment for people to watch the match".
He said the facility would be outside in the main car park, with the match shown on large screens.
The gift that will be presented to @celticfc for tomorrow's 1st ever game between our two clubs has been commissioned, by Belfast Crystal. pic.twitter.com/cpmt6W3b4q
— Linfield_FC (@Linfield_FC) July 13, 2017
The councillor added that the funding would support "the external part of the fanzone" and "not any of the commercial elements of the Devenish".
However, SDLP councillor Donal Lyons said: "The Devenish would not be so heavily promoting this if they did not anticipate making a profit.
"There is no additionality argument involved and it seems to me to be a gross misuse of ratepayers' money."
He added that numerous residents in the Orchardville area are "rightly outraged" and that he would be "pursuing this issue further".
In a statement, Belfast City Council told the Belfast Telegraph: "Discussions in respect for funding for this event are ongoing."
Last year The Irish News revealed how the council spent £170,000 relocating the Euro 2016 fanzone to Boucher Road playing fields for just two matches.
