RANGERS fans' group the Union Bears have accused Spanish police and security at the Seville stadium of treating football fans with 'contempt' at the Europa League final.
The comments came as the organisation explained why they were unable to showcase one of their trademark tifo displays at the showpiece match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
The Union Bears, who confirmed they will have a display at the Scottish Cup final against Hearts, insist all plans were in place for a tifo in Seville.
However, they claim that those preparations were thwarted at 'the last minute' by authorities in Spain, who took issue with the flags that had been made for the occasion.
That's despite the Union Bears saying it had all been arranged with security in the lead up to the game for the display to be allowed into the stadium.
Opponents Eintracht Frankfurt DID have a huge display of their own on show.
In a lengthy statement, the Union Bears explained the issues they encountered
The group said: "The Union Bears would like to clarify and inform supporters as to why there was no tifo for the Europa League final in Seville.
"Plans had been put in place, many man hours went into creating a tifo with over 5,000 flags hand made between the semi final second leg and having to leave for the final.
"To get the materials over to Spain, our members drove a van a 27 hour drive, each way.
"All materials had been authorised in advance and access had been agreed, we thought it was all in hand, liaising with Rangers who then took the information to UEFA and stadium security.
"Pictures, measurements, material specification and details of when we could arrive at the stadium were all sent days in advance to Spain.
"However, on arrival, we were told that the stadium security denied entry to some of the flags we had prepared as they were on bamboo canes, which is the regular type of stick you would find a flag on at matches.
"Spanish police then checked over the materials and they insisted that the bamboo canes could be used as 'weapons.'
"With the Spanish police now backing the stadium's security decision, it essentially forced out hand to pull the display.
"The sizes and types of these canes were known to all, well before we set off for Spain.
"The decision to refuse the agreed tifo at the last minute is dumbfounding and lacks any sort of substance.
"Whilst disappointed, we were not surprised by either the Spanish police or the stadium security's overzealous approach, or their clear contempt for football fans."
The Light Blues lost to Frankfurt in heart-breaking fashion after a penalty shoot-out.
Despite a disappointing night, defender Calvin Bassey put in a standout showing in southern Spain.
It appears the Nigeria international's form hasn't gone unnoticed, with a number of Premier League clubs reportedly interested in taking the former Leicester man back to England this summer.
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