Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ABERDEEN FURY AT EARLY CUP KICK-OFF
FUMING Aberdeen last night slammed the SPFL’S decision to play both Betfred Cup semi-finals on the same day – and insisted handing their fans a lunchtime Hampden kick-off was “appalling”.
Dons released a damning statement after the governing body forced them into a 12pm showdown with Rangers on Sunday, October 28.
That decision was made to accommodate a tie between Celtic and Hearts later that night.
But the Pittodrie club are furious at the long trek their fans are being pushed into so early. They claimed the SPFL ignored requests to avoid “unacceptable” kick-offs while refusing to consider alternatives.
Those included staging the two games on consecutive weekends or using different venues.
The problem arose as the Old Firm are in Europa League action on the Thursday before, with neither prepared to play less than 48 hours later. That left the SPFL scrambling for a solution and after a day of frantic talks with the four clubs, broadcasters BT Sport, Police Scotland and Hampden Park Ltd, a solution was reached.
But it hasn’t been well received. A Dons spokesperson said: “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.”