'An absolute farce' - fans slam Manchester United v Brighton kick-off time

By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Feb 2018, 11:25 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 06:36 BST
Action from Brighton's Premier League match at Manchester United. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)Action from Brighton's Premier League match at Manchester United. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)
Action from Brighton's Premier League match at Manchester United. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)
Football fans have hit out at the decision to play the FA Cup quarter-final tie between Manchester United and Brighton at 7.45pm on a Saturday evening.

The match will be broadcast live on BT Sport on March 17 but Seagulls supporters will not be able to get home to Sussex by train after the game - with the last one leaving Manchester at 8.35pm.

It leaves Brighton fans heading to the game by car or coach facing a return to Sussex in the early hours of Sunday morning, or having to stay in Manchester overnight.

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Replying to Brighton's official tweet with the confirmation of the kick-off time, Philip Andrew (@PhilTAndrew) wrote: "Ridiculous kick off time for Brighton fans getting back home."

Jakob‏ @JakobBHA tweeted: "£37 for adults, no trains back to Brighton after half 9, utterly shocking. Fans disregarded once again #BHAFC"

Dan Greet (@therealdsg) posted: "Yeah cheers for that @btsport - 500 mile round trip for those attending as last train back is 21:15."

Wigan fan Louise M (@Louisewafc) added: "Great for Brighton fans that isn't it?! What a joke. Hopefully we're on BBC again."

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United fan Matthew Halstead (@matthewhalstead) tweeted: "What an absolute farce @btsport have you got any idea what a paying fan will have to endure with this time? Bad for us, but I really feel for the Brighton supporters."

Another United supporter Westy (@Westy_Life) said: "That’s outrageous for your fans, TV money kicking the average football fan aside there."

Manchester Evening News reporter Chris Slater (@chrisslaterMEN) tweeted: "Brighton were due to play #MCFC at 4pm on the Sunday and the @FA and TV companies could have done fans who'd already booked trains etc a favour by having it on the same day. But.....oh no!. 7:45pm on a Saturday night.#BHAFC #MUFC."

He then added: "Last train back where you could get a connection to Brighton is just after 8:30pm so #BHAFC fans faced with 5 hour car/coach journey back after a game which won't finish till knocking on 10pm. And imagine if it goes to extra time and pens! (No replays now in Quarter finals)."

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