CELTIC football fans in Northern Ireland have accused P&O Ferries of trying to price out supporters from attending games in Scotland.
John Bennett is chair of St Matthew’s Celtic Supporters Club in Belfast and was among fans sailing across for yesterday’s Champions League game against Leipzig.
He said Rangers and Celtic fans attending afternoon matches in Glasgow normally use a Saturday sailing, leaving Northern Ireland at 8am and returning by 8pm.
From next month, he said P&O have announced plans to scrap the Saturday evening sailing unless certain “ridiculous” criteria are met.
This is said to include guaranteeing a minimum of five coaches with 50 people, costing £55 a head instead of the usual £35 to reinstate the sailing.
Football supporters' clubs would also be expected to pay for the extra security on board.
It’s understood an earlier 4.30pm P&O sailing on Saturdays will not be affected, causing some football supporters to feel they have been deliberately targeted.
Mr Bennett said members from his club have already paid £32,000 for season tickets which would be lost if the changes go ahead.
“That leaves us in a predicament, it’s unbelievable. We’re actually getting together with other Celtic and Rangers clubs, the Donegal crowd too, who have all used P&O for years,” he said.
“Doing away with that 8pm sailing leaves us in a situation where we can’t operate because we’ve no alternatives as it nearly doubles the prices.
“I’m not a businessman. But if they’re going to cancel the 8pm sailing, then they’ll have to cancel the 8am one too because football fans just won’t travel.
“It will mean you can’t get home until the next day.
“We’re in the middle of a financial crisis, people can just about afford to live so any small luxuries that they have are being cherished at the moment.”
On the proposed requirement for supporters to fill a coach, he said buying an extra ten match tickets at short notice to make up the numbers would also cost an extra £320 per crossing.
Gary Caskey from the club added: “It’s affecting all football fans across the board.
“Speaking only for ourselves, we’ve be a supporters club for ten years and are constantly travelling over for games and spending a lot of money with P&O.”
A spokesperson for P&O Ferries said: “Given the current economic climate, we are not in a position to operate services at a loss. As such, we are working with football clubs and their fans to find a viable solution which will enable us to continue facilitating their travel at suitable times.”
- updated with the statement from P&O ferries
