A probe has been launched over claims fake tickets were used by football fans attending the Scottish Cup tie in Fraserburgh last night.
Fraserburgh FC refused entry to dozens of supporters at Bellslea Park before the start of the match after it emerged the ground had reached full capacity.
It meant disappointment for more than 100 Rangers fans who had travelled to the port to cheer on their Ibrox heroes.
Rangers were issued 350 tickets for their fourth round encounter with the Press and Journal Highland League outfit.
But around 20 minutes into the match the Broch tweeted a statement that said their home ground had reached its capacity for the game.
The Twitter post said: “The capacity of the stadium is now full and we believe this is due to a number of counterfeit tickets in the away end.
“No further persons can be admitted.
“The club will hold an investigation and further details will be advised.”
One disappointed supporter, Brian Robertson, said he left Glasgow at lunchtime yesterday to make sure he would arrive in Fraserburgh with plenty of time to spare only to be locked out.
He said: “They just said the stadium was full and they weren’t letting anybody in and I have a genuine ticket.
“It came from Rangers and it is a £17 ticket and they said no you just have to leave.
“We didn’t want to cause any problems so we just left. I was at the turnstile and they said to me no more fans were getting in it is far too busy.
“There were a lot of forgeries, a few hundred I think. I believe they have all gone in a bit earlier than us.”
And Scott Dunn was part of a group of supporters who also made the journey from the west.
He said: “Seven of us drove up here and only six of us got in.
“My ticket has the hologram on it and the steward looked on the sheet and someone had struck off 322. He said ‘someone has already been in with your ticket’.”
After the full time whistle, Fraserburgh’s matchday secretary Mark Simpson advised supporters refused entry to contact the club if they had genuine tickets.
He said: “The full capacity in the away end was 350.
“There were 150 people locked outside the ground due to either having no ticket or forgeries.
“Anyone with a valid ticket can claim at the club, and the club will be investigating the tickets.”
Club chairman Finlay Noble refused to comment until after the investigation has concluded.
Meanwhile, Fraserburgh fans told of their pride in their players despite their Scottish Cup defeat.
Mark Cowie’s side went down 3-0 last night with Rangers’ Dean Windass scoring a hat trick.
But Broch supporters streaming out of Bellslea Park after the match insisted the squad of part-timers did their very best against a team challenger at the higher reaches of Scottish football.
Colin Norrie was one of those who has been reflecting on what has been the Highland League side’s biggest game in decades.
He said: “It has been brilliant for the town, everybody has been buzzing.
“The score line is a bit of a disaster, but that it just the way it goes.
“They did themselves proud and they played well.”
And William Filson said it there was still plenty of “magic” left when it came to the Scottish Cup for the smaller teams.
He said: “I think Fraserburgh did well. There is a big difference between the Highland League and the SPFL, but I think they gave Rangers a good go in the first half.
“The result is not what the town wanted, but it show just shows the magic of the cup is still there.
“Who knows, an early goal could have made all the difference.”
