Fury over rugby ‘prejudice’
BY ARTHUR VUNDLA reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk FURIOUS female fans have hit out after being forced to hand over their handbags at Murrayfield – then pay £10 to get them back.
Women who visit Scotland’s rugby stadium have dubbed the charge a “handbag tax” and say it is “prejudicial” against them.
Officials say any bags over A5 size are banned in the ground unless for childcare or medical reasons.
People with bags bigger than that must pay £10 to hand it into a bag drop and face lengthy queues of hundreds of supporters afterwards to retrieve it.
But women say they are being forced to go without their bags for the game – then queue for hours afterwards to retrieve them.
One fan tweeted: “Bag drop is a complete disaster and only a money-making exercise. I have been coming for 13 years. I won’t be coming back.”
Another added: “Lots of ladies with handbags are not very happy with £10 bag tax randomly applied.”
Another fan said on Facebook: “It’s pointless if there’s no ‘pat down’ or scan. I can wear a massive jacket filled with whatever and they don’t care.”
The issue came to a head after the Six Nations Scotland-Wales game last weekend.
Scottish Rugby said removing the number of bags means fans can enjoy “safer” matchdays, adding: “We have have operated a small bag only policy at BT Murrayfield since November 2017 in collaboration with police and security agencies.”