Journalist reacts to SPFL statement as Rangers v Aberdeen Viaplay Cup final ticket decision made
Journalist Scott McDermott has questioned the SPFL’s decision to not give Aberdeen and Rangers a 50-50 ticket split for next month’s Viaplay Cup final.
The governing body released a statement on Wednesday (8 November) announcing that Rangers will get around 25,000 tickets at Hampden Park, compared to 19,500 for Aberdeen supporters.
However, speaking on the Record Rangers Podcast [9 November], Sunday Mail chief football writer McDermott insisted the SPFL has made the wrong call with that decision.
“Listen, I understand Rangers and Celtic fans’ arguments when it comes down to this,” he said. “But I’m sorry – it’s harsh, but when you get to a cup final, it has to be a 50-50 split, as long as the other team can sell the tickets.
“You can argue about average attendances – I get it – but it’s a national cup final and teams are there as equals – it doesn’t matter the size.
“If they can’t sell them, of course they should come back to the other team so there’s as many supporters there as possible. I just don’t think the argument stands up – it has to be a 50-50 split.”
Here we go again
This is a debate that comes up every time Rangers play at Hampden, most recently last month when Hearts boss Steven Naismith hit out at the fact the Gers had been given more tickets than his side.
The bottom line is that the SPFL knows Rangers will have no problems selling their 25,000 allocation for the showdown on 17 December.
Aberdeen supporters will of course argue that is also the case for their side, but the SPFL takes previous games clubs have played at the national stadium into account.
As per the governing body’s statement: “We take a range of factors into consideration, including the number of tickets each club sells in the semi-finals, as well as their historic ticket sales in any previous League Cup finals and semi-finals.”
The fact Rangers consistently sell out their allocation ensures they will continue being given more tickets when playing sides other than Celtic.
It may not be fair, in the view of McDermott and others, but there is at least some logic to the SPFL’s decision.
In other Rangers news, a first-team regular has made an “absurd” claim ahead of a January decision.