FUMING Celtic are involved in a row with Betfred League Cup semi-final opponents Hibs over unsold tickets that could see 10,000 empty seats at Hampden this afternoon.
The Easter Road side demanded a 50/50 split of the briefs with each club then allocated 20,000 tickets for the 12.15pm kick-off.
It is understood the Hoops were given assurances by the Edinburgh outfit they would sell their entire quota, but they have only shifted half of that number.
The champions – who have 53,000 season-ticket holders – are angry they weren’t even given the opportunity to snap up the 10,000 surplus.
The club will now write to the SPFL to discuss the matter and will demand answers over what they claim is a recurring issue.
A spokesperson said: “Celtic Football Club is extremely disappointed to learn so many tickets will be unsold for such a prestigious and eagerly awaited match.
“Hibernian demanded an even split of tickets, but as it stands have only sold half their allocation.
“It is totally unacceptable that we have thousands more season-ticket holders wishing to attend the match, but they will now not be able to, whilst thousands of seats lie empty.
“This is not for the first time this has happened and we will be writing to the SPFL on a matter which needs to be addressed.”
At last season’s Betfred Cup Final Aberdeen were given a 50% split of the ticket allocation but were also unable to sell out, leaving large empty sections behind the goal, and denying Celtic supporters the opportunity of seeing their side with the club’s 100th trophy (uninterrupted) and the first under Brendan Rodgers; guidance.
No-one disagreed that Aberdeen deserved 50% of the tickets should they be able to sell them but CQN urged Neil Doncaster at the time to in future introduce a system where the section closed to the Celtic support is sold last by our opponents at Hampden (other than Sevco Rangers).
If the tickets were all sold, fine. If not then release them to the season ticket holders in Scottish football who otherwise would be denied a trip to the national stadium to watch their team play.
If there is a principle in place that no team should have more than 50% of the tickets then why are Sevco Rangers getting 38,000 tickets tomorrow.
As usually with the blazers at Hampden, it is one rule for us and a different rule for them.
Aberdeen’s eyes were bigger than their bellies last November and you were told Mr Doncaster, you were told.
Hibs have let you down and you have embarrassed the Scottish game once too often. Those empty spaces at Hampden today are down to you and you alone.
His played Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final in April and Hampden was embarrassingly empty. Now you have some sympathy for the journey the Dons fans have to make, but how many Hibs fans were there that day Mr Doncaster? What to see some pictures?
And Hibs’ bravo in asking for 50% was hardly backed up by their actions. Yesterday you could NOT by tickets on their official site from their supplier Ticketmaster and unbelievably the Hibs ticket office is closed this morning, so there is no chance of any last minute sales in Leith before a dash across the M8 to Hampden.
