About 40 people were escorted off a Belfast-bound ferry and several were arrested after an “unacceptable level of behaviour” on-board.

The group of football fans were removed from the Stena Line vessel in Cairnryan, southwest Scotland on Saturday night after the captain called police.

It is understood they were returning to Northern Ireland following a Celtic match in Glasgow when it happened, Belfast Live reported.

Police Scotland said three people were arrested for alleged public order offences, before the group later sailed on another ferry the next morning “without issue”.

Following the incident, a Stena Line spokeswoman said the company does not tolerate abuse of staff or customers.

She told Sky News: “Following an unacceptable level of behaviour from football fans on-board the Stena Line vessel, due to depart Cairnryan at 11pm on Saturday 23 November to Belfast, the captain called police in Cairnryan for assistance to escort the group off the ship before sailing.

“Stena Line has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to staff or customer abuse and will refuse travel to anyone who contravenes this policy thus ensuring the safety and comfort of its passengers and crew.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “About 40 people were escorted from the 11pm ferry on Saturday 23 November at the request of the captain because of their behaviour. Three were arrested for public order offences.

“All 40 later sailed on the 6am ferry on Sunday, 24 November without issue.”

Earlier this year, a mass brawl broke out on a P&O cruise ship as it returned to Southampton from Bergen in Norway.

Two people were arrested after it was reported that plates and furniture were used as weapons during the brawl, in which six people were left with cuts and bruises.

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