Aberdeen FC Disappointed By Hampden Ticket Allocation For Scottish Cup Semi-Final

Aberdeen FC has expressed their dissatisfaction regarding the ticket allocation for the upcoming Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic. Despite their proposal to return any unsold tickets, the club has been allocated 19,000 tickets for the match at Hampden Park. In contrast, Heart of Midlothian (Hearts) has announced an initial allocation of 21,000 tickets for their semi-final against Rangers, following a successful proposal that included underwriting the cost of unsold tickets.

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has scheduled Aberdeen's clash with Celtic for 12:30 pm on April 20, while Hearts will face Rangers at 3 pm on April 21. The decision comes amidst discussions on ticket distributions, with both Aberdeen and Hearts initially seeking an equitable 50-50 split in ticket allocations.

Aberdeen's statement highlighted their disappointment, noting that their request for up to 50% of match tickets was declined based on historical sales data. The club had previously sold an initial batch of 17,000 tickets rapidly for their December match against Rangers but encountered issues with a subsequent batch due to loyalty points concerns and misallocated tickets.

On the other hand, Hearts shared their satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing the importance of equal fan representation at such a crucial match. The club's successful negotiation ensures that both Hearts and Rangers fans will have an equal opportunity to support their teams, with each side receiving an initial allocation of 21,000 tickets. This arrangement also places the responsibility on Hearts to cover any unsold tickets from their allocation.

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith voiced his support for the equitable ticket distribution, highlighting the significance of a balanced atmosphere for what promises to be a highly anticipated match between two of Scotland's major football clubs.

The SFA has chosen not to comment on the ticket allocation process. As the semi-final matches draw near, both Aberdeen and Hearts are preparing to give their best on the field, backed by thousands of their supporters at Hampden Park.