Brighton players pay cost of game tickets for their fans traveling to Arctic Circle for playoff

Brighton's football players are covering the expenses of match tickets for their supporters who are journeying to the Arctic Circle for a UEFA Conference League playoff game on Thursday night against Norwegian side Tromsø. The English Premier League club announced on Wednesday that the 407 fans embarking on this trip will receive refunds for their tickets, in addition to scarves and t-shirts as a special thank you for their dedication.

Brighton's captain, Lewis Dunk, stated that the players wanted to acknowledge the fans' commitment. "The fans didn't know where they were going until the last minute. It's a long trip for them, last minute to organize," Dunk said on the club's website. "We thought we want to start the season off well for the fans and make a gesture by refunding their tickets as a group."

Brighton secured an eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season, earning a spot in a two-legged playoff in Europe's third-tier club competition. Tromsø secured their place in the playoff by defeating Romanian club Cluj with a 7-1 aggregate score last Thursday. The match in northern Norway marks Brighton's first competitive fixture of the season.

The club indicated that the fans will receive their refunds in the days following the game. "Hopefully the fans appreciate this gesture from the players and it's a good start to a good season with them and we can all enjoy it along the way," Dunk concluded.