Syme
Well-Known Member
RANGERS supporters are set to receive just half of the 20% share that the SFA rules say all away sides are entitled to for next month’s William Hill Scottish Cup quarter final tie against Aberdeen – because of safety certificate regulations over segregation at Pittodrie.
Steven Gerrard’s side booked their visit to the North East in the last eight with a controversial 5-0 victory against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night, but while SFA rules oblige visiting clubs in Scottish Cup matches to one fifth of all available seats, with an even split of gate receipts, the Ibrox side will be provided with just 2,000 tickets out of a capacity of 20,866.
The crux of the matter is a security fence which was removed four years ago, back when Aberdeen decided to cut away capacity in league matches from 4000 to 2000.
While a modern stadium would allow for more flexibility in segregation arrangements, the old-school design at Pittodrie leaves little room for flexibility, particularly in what has the potential to be a powderkeg match.
The first Scottish Cup home meeting with either Celtic or Rangers since then, discussions with Police Scotland and the length of time to alter the safety certificate alone means that the Dons have been left with no choice but to inform the Ibrox side that they are unable to provide travelling fans with 20% of tickets and proceed with the sale of home areas.
“The rules say that the visiting team are entitled to up to 20% except if the safety certificate doesn’t allow it – and it doesn’t,” said a club source. “Once we move to a modern stadium it will be different. But to change the safety certificate takes a good matter of weeks to go through the licensing board, so we have informed everyone that Rangers will only be getting 2,000 tickets.”
It is unclear whether Rangers have any rights of appeal to the SFA on the matter but Aberdeen are adamant that no other solution exists.
Steven Gerrard’s side booked their visit to the North East in the last eight with a controversial 5-0 victory against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night, but while SFA rules oblige visiting clubs in Scottish Cup matches to one fifth of all available seats, with an even split of gate receipts, the Ibrox side will be provided with just 2,000 tickets out of a capacity of 20,866.
The crux of the matter is a security fence which was removed four years ago, back when Aberdeen decided to cut away capacity in league matches from 4000 to 2000.
While a modern stadium would allow for more flexibility in segregation arrangements, the old-school design at Pittodrie leaves little room for flexibility, particularly in what has the potential to be a powderkeg match.
The first Scottish Cup home meeting with either Celtic or Rangers since then, discussions with Police Scotland and the length of time to alter the safety certificate alone means that the Dons have been left with no choice but to inform the Ibrox side that they are unable to provide travelling fans with 20% of tickets and proceed with the sale of home areas.
“The rules say that the visiting team are entitled to up to 20% except if the safety certificate doesn’t allow it – and it doesn’t,” said a club source. “Once we move to a modern stadium it will be different. But to change the safety certificate takes a good matter of weeks to go through the licensing board, so we have informed everyone that Rangers will only be getting 2,000 tickets.”
It is unclear whether Rangers have any rights of appeal to the SFA on the matter but Aberdeen are adamant that no other solution exists.
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