Bulgaria game 'my worst' NI fans experience

NI fans spokesman Gary McAllister said Bulgarian police had turned down requests for the visiting supporters to be provided with shuttle buses to travel to the stadium in Plovdiv

Northern Ireland fans spokesman Gary McAllister says the treatment the country's travelling supporters were subjected to at Sunday's Nations League game in Bulgaria was the "worst experience" he has encountered in 27 years of following the team.

McAllister, who is chairman of the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters' Clubs [AONISC], said on Monday that "shameful and totally unacceptable" treatment of Northern Ireland fans included one ending up in hospital after being attacked.

The fans spokesman added Northern Ireland supporters been been denied "basic rights of water and toilet facilities" after being locked into their section of the stadium in Plovdiv.

"As someone who has travelled watching Northern Ireland for 27 years, I have to say that was the worst experience," McAllister told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster on Tuesday.

The Northern Ireland fans representative said Bulgarian police had turned down requests for shuttle buses to be provided to transport Northern Ireland fans which he says is regular practice at away internationals.

This request was made when McAllister travelled to Bulgaria a couple of weeks before the game to discuss arrangements for the game with the Bulgarian Football Union and the local police.

"In a number of countries, the police have been happy to put on a shuttle bus service where they are free or fans can buy tickets for and they [the Bulgarian police] declined to do that," added the fans spokesman.

About 900 Northern Ireland supporters attended Sunday's Nations League game in Bulgaria where the home side secured a 1-0 victory

McAllister said the Bulgarian police initially wanted Northern Ireland fans to take an elongated walking route of nearly six kilometres to the stadium in temperatures of 30C before agreeing a more direct four-kilometre journey on foot after protests from the visiting fans' representatives.

"In the end, they accommodated us from the Old Town to the stadium in the heat which took almost an hour and at one point, they had us standing there for 20 minutes and wouldn't allow us to proceed because they were searching through the streets for other Northern Ireland fans."

Asked whether the Bulgarian police's approach could have been because of fear that Northern Ireland fans might be attacked, McAllister replied: "If there is an issue with people's safety, why have us walk for almost an hour right through the city, through basically built-up areas. That's not a very wise decision.

"The easiest way to try and do that would be to put on a shuttle bus service."

The Northern Ireland fans spokesman believes the Bulgarian police's decision not to seek PSNI assistance contributed to Sunday's events.

"On most occasions, the Police Service of Northern Ireland would be invited to travel and that's done through the UK Football policing unit in London," he said, adding that the Bulgarian police "only turned down [the offer of help] the week before the game".

Irish FA expects 'Uefa' update

McAllister also said one elderly Northern Ireland fan who had walking difficulties was "pushed towards the stairs" when asking whether he would be able to use a lift.

The Irish FA said on Monday that it had "engaged with Uefa at a senior level to indicate that our fans do not have the history or profile which suggests they deserve the type of treatment that has been reported".

"We expect an update in due course and want to take this opportunity to thank our fans for their continued support," said the Irish FA.

BBC Sport NI has also contacted the Bulgarian Football Union and Uefa for comment in addition to the Bulgarian police.