WHY RISK IT?

Morton chief hits out at SFA for not putting fan safety first

MORTON chief executive Warren Hawke last night criticised the SFA for giving the green light to today’s Scottish Cup clash with Celtic at Parkhead.

Treacherous weather forced the Scottish government to issue a red warning this week and, although it was downgraded to yellow yesterday, the public were still encouraged to avoid travel.

The roads surrounding Celtic Park were clear yesterday, but Hawke argued that cannot be the only criteria for the game going ahead as fans face tough conditions travelling to the east end of Glasgow from elsewhere.

He called for the postponement of all four quarter-finals this weekend — with Kilmarnock fans facing a particularly challenging 350-mile round trip to Aberdeen today — and maintained that the safety of supporters is being put at risk.

‘We will have supporters risking life and limb to travel to a football match while the Met Office is issuing warnings to avoid

non-essential travel,’ said Hawke. ‘Ultimately, it isn’t about the area around Celtic Park.

‘Supporter safety has to be key and I don’t think anyone can guarantee that at this moment.

‘I fear for a lot of Morton fans trying to get to this game.

‘Surely the SFA and Police Scotland will come together and make a sensible early decision in the best interests of the safety of everyone.’

Responding via a statement yesterday afternoon, SFA interim chief executive Andrew McKinlay said: ‘As it stands, there are no plans to call off any of the William Hill Scottish Cup sixth-round fixtures. The desire and hope is that they proceed as planned.

‘There are no pitch inspections scheduled for these matches at this stage and each host club has worked tirelessly to ensure the pitches and the surrounding areas are safe and in the best possible condition.

‘We reiterate that we are in constant close contact with all clubs concerned, police and local authorities. The situation will be reviewed regularly on a case-bycase basis.’

Accusing the governing body and home clubs of failing to take the interests of fans into account, Hawke added: ‘We have supporters that we sent out tickets to on Tuesday this week and they still haven’t received them yet.

‘We’ve had phone calls from our supporters saying: “I’ve got seven tickets, but I can’t get out of my drive. We’ve got a foot-and-a-half of snow here — what do I do?”

‘It’s just so easy to say: “Game’s on, everything’s fine around Celtic Park”.

‘But you’ll have people trying to risk it because they are die-hard fans and they will try everything to get to the game. We are just not considering our customers one little bit.’

Celtic avoided their usual Lennoxtown base to train at Parkhead yesterday morning.

The savage effects of the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ storm forced the postponement of their midweek league match against Dundee.

That game has now been rescheduled for April 4 — making today’s game against Morton Celtic’s last opportunity for a competitive fixture before facing Rangers at Ibrox next weekend.

‘I don’t think there is any reason why it can’t be on other than a bit of snow lying around,’ said boss Brendan Rodgers.

‘The pitch is great, it’s playable and the guys have done a great job. The stadium is fine.

‘There has been a lot of work inside and outside, so the game will be fine. The other question is the pavements — but the council and everyone else is working hard to make sure they are safe.’

Defying expectations that the rearranged game against Dundee would take place on Tuesday or Wednesday, a decision to settle for April 4 means full-back Mikael Lustig is now of the Rangers match through suspension.

Meanwhile, Patrick Roberts and Marvin Compper — yet to make his first appearance since signing in January — will be in the squad to face Morton.

Offering neither the promise of a start, however, Rodgers insisted: ‘These are not fitness games. They are games to win.’

Rodgers has scouted Morton and is wary of the threat that Jim Duffy’s side pose.

He added: ‘You can’t take anyone lightly. But this is the part of the season I really enjoy. It’ll be tough, but I see a real focus and hunger in the team now.’