WHAT A BOOT IN THE BALLOTS

EXCLUSIVE

CELTIC last night savaged the SPFL and accused them of bias over the decision to switch their Betfred Cup semi-final against Hearts to Murrayfield.

Seething Parkhead chiefs launched a blistering attack after

a move that will see them take on the Jambos at the home of rugby at 1.30pm on Sunday, October 28.

Aberdeen v Rangers remains at Hampden with a 4.30pm kick-off the same day and that prompted fury from the Hoops who wanted a draw to decide which game was switched.

It was a day of twists in the fixture farce where:

● Celtic blasted the SPFL for discrimination after their semi-final was handpicked to move.

● Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers claimed staging the tie at Murrayfield gives Hearts an unfair advantage.

● Jambos gaffer Craig Levein rejected those claims and told Celtic to play at Hampden on the Saturday if they don’t like it.

● And Record Sport can exclusively reveal the SPFL have to stump up a hefty compensation fee to greedy Hampden bosses.

Celtic have been angered most and said: “The SPFL board’s decision not to hold a ballot to decide the semifinal venues is both irrational and discriminatory.

“All we asked for was a simple ballot so all clubs would have a 50-50 chance of playing at Hampden.

“We understand those bodies consulted, including police and broadcasters, had no preference on which match should take place at each venue.

“The SPFL board have been unable to produce logic or reason for turning down our modest request. Instead, they have arbitrarily decided a chosen game should stay at Hampden and the other should go to Murrayfield.

“The interests of our club and supporters have been subordinated to a diktat from the SPFL board which is unfair and unnecessary.”

Boss Rodgers added: “It’s not neutral. It’s fair on everyone to have made a draw. I don’t think you can just assume right, okay, Murrayfield, well Celtic will go there and play Hearts.

“I’m happy to play anywhere and it’s a lovely pitch at Murrayfield from what I see and have been told. But transparency for everyone is important.

“The minute they announced both games were at the same stadium people would have booked boats, flights, travelling up from England or parts of Scotland and having to organise the cost of that.”

But Levein insists Hearts won’t gain an advantage despite using Murrayfield as a temporary home at the start of last term.

Levein, who has a new-look squad, said: “Hardly any of our boys have played there. We’ve had about 12 games in total at Murrayfield and Celtic have played eight.

“So there would be no advantage for us. I’d be happy to play Celtic on the Saturday at Hampden if they want to do that.

“Our fans have to go to Hampden every year so why can’t Celtic fans come to Edinburgh for one year?

“We have to play on the Sunday to suit Celtic so it’s reasonable to expect them to come through here.”

Meanwhile, Record Sport can reveal yesterday’s development was only rubber-stamped after the SPFL agreed to fork out for the semi-final that now WON’T be held at Hampden.

And that fixed cash payment could swallow up as much as £100,000 of the total gate receipts from the match at Murrayfield.

News of this secret payout throws more controversy on to the farce surrounding the semi-finals which had originally been scheduled to take place at Hampden on the same day.

On Tuesday SPFL chief exec Neil Doncaster claimed SFA counterpart Ian Maxwell had prompted a late change of heart that enabled him to wriggle out of a binding contract – and switch one of the ties.

But now it has emerged that – rather than this being a gesture of goodwill – the SPFL will still have to pay.

SRU bosses were holding out for 20 per cent of all gate receipts which could leave the SPFL with a bill for almost £350,000 if the stadium is sold out.

But the SPFL stand to make more money from taking Hearts v Celtic to Murrayfield with a potential extra 15,000 ticket sales raking in around £375,000 plus a slice of matchday catering revenue.

The profit from the two ties is split between the four clubs and they are understood to be unhappy at being hit in the pocket.