Rugby crowd cut to 8,000

THE decision to switch Glasgow Warriors’ home match with Edinburgh to BT Murrayfield has reached farcical levels after it emerged that today’s attendance inside the 67,000-capacity stadium will be limited to just 8,000. A record crowd of 23,000 attended last week’s first leg of the 1872 Cup double header at the national stadium, which the capital hosts won 23-11. Glasgow

have already been accused of throwing away their home advantage by agreeing to play today’s return leg there, too, because of a waterlogged pitch at their own Scotstoun ground.

And the SRU have now revealed there will be a cap on how many can attend Murrayfield today because they can’t find enough stewards and first-aiders to accommodate a bigger crowd.

It means that many Glasgow and Edinburgh fans who missed out on a ticket for the sold-out match at 8,000capacity Scotstoun will be denied buying tickets at the turnstiles for this afternoon’s vital clash.

An SRU spokesman said there would be no tickets available on the day because moving the fixture had created ‘logistical challenges’.

He said: ‘The large number of public and sporting events being held in Scotland over the New Year period has limited the availability of suitably qualified safety and first aid staff to support the revised fixture to a scale much beyond the original planned attendance at Scotstoun.

‘Therefore to ensure the game is managed within the correct safety protocols, it has been necessary to limit the attendance to 8,000.

‘This ensures the requisite number of first aiders and stewards are on hand to give fans a safe and enjoyable experience.

‘We would like to thank our support staff for their commitment given the difficult circumstances over this period and also pass on our gratitude to the supporters of Glasgow and Edinburgh for their understanding.’

Tickets handed back by Glasgow fans not able to travel through to Edinburgh were being sold online last night through official sources.

A Warriors statement sent out to fans read: ‘Warriors Season Tickets Members can gain access to the stadium by scanning their Season Ticket Membership card at turnstiles. Supporters with paper match tickets for the Scotstoun leg can also gain access by scanning their original ticket through the turnstiles.’