NEIL DONCASTER’S remarkable news last night – that both League Cup semi-final matches will take place on the same day at the same venue – Hampden – is astonishing, even by his own very low standards.
We have had a quick look at the initial reaction from Celtic and have looked in detail at the official opinion given by the Hearts owner Ann Budge – see HERE.
Now here’s the view from Aberdeen, whose fans will have to be up at the crack of dawn to get to Hampden for the 12 noon kick-off. Here’s what an Aberdeen FC spokesperson had to say about the decision on their official website.
ABERDEEN FC STATEMENT
“As a club we have repeatedly asked that the authorities stop giving us kick-off times which, for our large travelling support, are completely unacceptable, but yet again, what should be a showpiece occasion, is scheduled to start at a time that does not take supporters into account.
“While we appreciate Police Scotland was insistent that our game was played first for operational reasons, we believe, and stated along with others, that having both games in the same stadium on the same day, is inappropriate. There are other options that should have been investigated further, including staging the two games on consecutive weekends or using two different venues which would have allowed kick-off times more suitable for what are hugely significant occasions in the Scottish football calendar. Contesting the two matches on consecutive weekends would be an alternative surely worth investigating, particularly as Celtic are due to face Heart of Midlothian in the Ladbrokes Premiership the following weekend, while also fulfilling the contractual obligations.
“We appreciate the authorities have a difficult job to schedule games in what is an extremely congested calendar but to yet again ask our supporters to be in Glasgow for a 12 noon start on a Sunday is, quite frankly, appalling.”
So that’s Hearts AGAINST, Celtic SURPRISED and Aberdeen AGAINST…
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