The Tannadice pitch was deemed unplayable after heavy rain

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has defended the club's decision to charge fans for admission to their replayed match with Rangers next month.

Supporters were told to retain ticket stubs after the match was abandoned on 1 November due to a waterlogged pitch.

But United will now charge half-price admission at Tannadice on 15 December.

"People seem to have got it into their head that they were entitled to a refund," said Thompson. "Legally, we are entitled not to do that."

On Monday, Rangers released a statement criticising United's decision to charge a discounted rate for fans attending the replayed match, saying: "We advised Dundee United that taking a decision which would leave supporters out of pocket would not in our view be right."

Rangers were leading the Premier League match 1-0 at half-time when referee Mike Tumelty decided to abandon the game on safety grounds.

Thompson insisted fans were not told their ticket would be valid for the replay, and a reduced pricing for the rescheduled match would be a fair reflection of the operational costs incurred by the Tayside club for hosting two matches.

"We have massive cost from both games from a policing point of view," said Thompson.

"I don't think people realise when the Old Firm come to play us at Tannadice, our police and stewarding costs are three times what they are normally.

"There's no change of policy. We asked people to retain their ticket stub and wait for further information which would be issued in due course.

"People sometimes start to assume something was said, but there is absolutely no guidelines for this.

"It's only the third time a game has been abandoned in ten years in the SPL, so the onus is very much on the home club."

Fans have also complained about the scheduling of the replay, but the United chairman maintained that the date was approved by Rangers and reiterated that the decision to charge for the match would not be overturned.

"We've also had complaints about the date, which was not chosen by us - it was chosen by the other club," said Thompson.

"I spoke to the Rangers chief executive Martin Bain and he said it was entirely up to us because it was our home fixture and they have no influence over it.

"The fans have come out and said they are very unhappy, but you cannot keep everyone happy in an instance like this. It's absolutely impossible.

"We're leaving it exactly as it is.

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"Reducing the price was fair - we could have charged fill price under the rules and regulations, but what we decided to do was give a price of £12 and £6 which reflects the fact that the match was abandoned, and that's where we stand."

The statement on the United website read: "After careful consideration of all factors, the club has taken the decision to reduce prices by some 50% across the board, rather than charge full pricing together with a part exchange or refund value attached to any ticket stubs from the game abandoned at half time on 1 November.

"For the avoidance of doubt, these ticket stubs carry no value in terms of part exchange or refund."

The Rangers statement added: "The club is very disappointed by this outcome.

"Under current regulations the decision is entirely that of the home club. If Dundee United wish to charge spectators for the replay then refunds should have been offered for the abandoned fixture."

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