Empty gesture no use
Ian Maxwell admits the SFA will be at the mercy of UEFA if they can’t guarantee having fans at Hampden’s Euro 2000 games this summer.
SFA chief Maxwell is adamant there has been no indication of games being switched away from Glasgow – but he accepts it is still a possibility.
Maxwell said: “We’re working as hard as we can to get there.
“We’re not at the point where there are any signs that the games will not be at Hampden.
“If we can’t provide what UEFA require, the same as Wembley, the same as Baku, Bilbao or any of the other stadiums, then UEFA have some decisions to make.”
Maxwell revealed that UEFA want at least 20 to 30 per cent of the stadium
capac it y fi l led by spectators, with Glasgow organisers working on that as a minimum and trying to increase that.
He said: “It seems feasible. At the moment, we have a spectator cap of 300 in a level-one area.
“No one can be under any i l lus ions that is going to have to change but there has been a lot of improvements.
“We need to learn from other events across Europe and ensure we can get the number as high as it possible can be while doing it in the safest way.”
Fears of Glasgow being axed as a host city arose amid claims UEFA wanted cast-iron guarantees on fan numbers by April 7.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the country is “absolutely intent” on hosting games.
But she said: “While you are getting signs of a lot of optimism from us, looking too far ahead is just difficult to do.”