Cardiff demand refund as snow controversy takes new twist
CARDIFF CITY chief Ken Choo has called for Derby County to reimburse Bluebirds fans following the snow controversy surrounding the postponed match at Pride Park on Sunday.
Choo wants Cardiff supporters paid back every single penny by the East Midlands club for ticket and travel expense incurred.
The new twist to the saga comes as Derby find themselves under increasing scrutiny for the hugely contentious decision to call off the Championship game.
The match was officially called off just three-and-a-half hours before the scheduled 12pm kickoff time, with the Rams stating that the areas around the ground were unsafe.
In a statement, they wrote: “Following persistent heavy snowfall in Derby overnight, the surrounding areas at Pride Park Stadium have been left in an unsafe condition for supporters, staff and officials.”
Derbyshire Police and Derby City Council have distanced themselves from the club’s action, insisting Derby County acted alone in making the call.
Derby officials claim they followed correct procedure, but could find themselves in hot water if they are deemed to have broken Football League rules.
Under those regulations the two clubs have to endeavour to ensure a fixture goes ahead.
The referee did not make the decision to postpone the game and the Bluebirds were not consulted for their views beforehand.
Some Cardiff fans have called for Derby to be docked three points. Unfortunately, those points cannot just be awarded to Neil Warnock’s promotion chasing Bluebirds and they will still need to play the rearranged fixture at some point in April.
But Choo wants justice for up to 3,000 Cardiff fans, many of whom had set off from South Wales in the early hours to ensure they were at Pride Park in time for the scheduled lunchtime kickoff.
The Cardiff chief executive said: “I’m going to press to reimbursement of cost for our supporters. I’m fighting for the fans, who are the people most affected by this.
“Derby County need to agree to pay them back in full the cost of tickets and travel.
“Derby have to do the right and proper thing here and agree to fully compensate our travelling supporters.”
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock slammed the decision to call the game off, telling Sky Sports News: “I’m very disappointed. I think it’s a disgrace quite frankly.
“You look at their game against Fulham two weeks ago, if you look on the website, all of the Derby fans were saying it was 10 times worse... They had snow ploughs everywhere.
“Safety? We’ve come from the middle of the countryside in the coach and the roads have been perfectly alright so I just don’t know where they’re coming from.
“We didn’t get word it was in doubt. We were told at quarter past eight that it was off.” – Walesonline