FANS SHUNTED OUT BY TRAIN BOSSES

In an Fa Cup tradition almost as well established as the ribbons on the trophy’s handles, there has been an outcry over the shifting of a fixture to a problematic kick-off time.

Chelsea’s match at Hull on Saturday, January 25, will now take place at 5.30pm, making it impossible to return to London by public transport. King’s Cross is shut for engineering work, meaning the only option would be trains and buses via Sheffield and Luton, leaving supporters stranded in the outskirts of the capital at 4am.

‘Why on earth have BT Sport and the Football association allowed this to happen?’ asked Dave Chidgey of the Chelsea Supporters Trust.

Yet it isn’t the responsibility of TV companies and sports administrators to provide an efficient system of public transport. It is outrageous that so often our train companies cannot move people around the country after early evening.

There are too many executives in transport who think nothing of shutting the network without any thought for the rest of the population.

Moving matches for TV is rarely convenient, but travelling should not become mission impossible. The lack of concern for passengers is troubling here, not just the effect on one group of football fans.