Rangers: Hibernian threat to cut Gers and Celtic ticket allocations at Easter Road defended
Bill Leckie insists Hibernian “have every right” to cut the number of tickets allocated to Rangers and Celtic supporters.
Hibs CEO Ben Kensell said last week that the club may reduce to away allocation for the Old Firm pair due to recent fan misbehaviour.
It stems from flares being let off at Easter Road, which led to talkSPORT presenter Simon Jordan hitting out at certain “morons”.
While the decision has been widely criticised, Leckie says it is understandable – albeit Hibs must look closer to home first.
“Hibs have every right to slash both of the Old Firm’s ticket allocations unless pre-match arson attacks stop,” Leckie wrote in his column for The Scottish Sun [3 March].
“Flares are illegal, simple. So why should anyone welcome visitors who persist in breaking the law on their premises. It’s just a pity that, 24 hours after the Easter Road board’s bold statement, their own travelling support let them down so badly at Tynecastle.
“Smoke bombs, pies, lighters, even a bottle opener — the away end chucked everything but the kitchen sink during a 1-1 derby draw. It’s only down to sheer luck that no player was hurt.
“And you know what got me about it? The same as gets so many of us every time crowds behave badly these days. The fact that cops stood back and did hee-haw while stewards were left in the firing line.”
Rangers face having Hibernian allocation reduced
There is no doubt that the use of pyrotechnics inside stadia helps generate a better atmosphere. However, they have been made illegal and so that is why this issue is still debated over and over.
Hibs’ stance seems a little over the top, but Kensell clearly wants to make his point loud and clear.
Potentially cutting the allocation of tickets for Gers supporters will set a dangerous precedent, one in which the Light Blues may reciprocate going forward.
Rangers currently receive around 3,500 tickets for this fixture, which are often very quick to sell out.
The last thing the fanbase wants is for that number to be reduced and the majority to be punished because some sneak flares in when they are prohibited.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has responded to a “seriously worrying” claim made about the Gers.
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