Kenny Bruce slammed tickets for Larney Ireland’s Premier League game at Cliftonville in Solitude on Saturday.
Cliftonville – which is just one point off the top as it aims to play its first Gibson Cup since 2014 – has developed new arrangements to allow many of its fans to watch the club’s last home game of the season.
Larne has 80 tickets for the high-profile match, with visiting fans placed in a separate lower seating area in the main stand.
Updated plans will see a bowling green stadium – which usually serves away fans – being used for the home fans.
Larne’s owner, Bruce, called the move an “absolute disgrace” and called on the NI Football Association to “retire”.
He wrote on Twitter: “Absolute shame. Standard league game beyond Covid rules shouldn’t be limited. Bad show for such a big club. So much for the championship e NIFL officer He must enter.”
Bruce also urged Larn fans not to attend Saturday’s game, adding that he would never “set foot” alone again.
One of the fans responded: “I hope our fans will not participate. Of course I will not set foot on the ground. Good news for both of us.”
Cliftonville fans were unable to attend the club’s European final against Larney last summer after tickets were not awarded due to Covid-19 restrictions and renovations underway at Inver Park.
Similar restrictions were imposed on the Europa League semi-final match at the same venue between Larne and Glenavon.
Many Cliftonville fans were quick to point out last season’s shutdown for Bruce on Twitter, to which he replied: “Two major problems/challenges in last season’s European play-off match. 1. Covid rules 2. Construction site. New situation. We had no choice but to Limit our numbers. Bad show from your club e NIFL officer “I must participate to warn you about the game.”
In a separate response, Bruce added: “We are very fond of the visiting fans and have a large number of fans in the league from home.
“Our league has to be more professional to stop such a thing, otherwise it will not develop, in my opinion. I have to realize that I cannot change things.”
Cliftonville hosts Lorain on Saturday before the league season concludes with three away games against Coleraine, Cruzeders and Glentoran, respectively.
Larry, who is currently fifth, is away from home in the remaining four games of the Premier League.
On their website, the Reds said: “Cliftonville fans have been advised that due to the high demand for tickets for recent matches, new arrangements will be made for the Danske Bank Premiership match at home to Larney on Saturday.
“The club wants to ensure that as many Reds fans as possible attend, and therefore the bowling alley will be used to greet our fans. This will significantly increase the number of tickets available for Cliftonville fans.
For this, it is necessary to take other control measures.
The club added: “While we understand that this will cause some inconvenience and some fans may not be able to take their traditional and preferred positions, we hope you understand that this move is designed to help the many Cliftonville fans to join the club’s match.”
Source: Belfastlive
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