Celtic fans, as all football supporters should, have had big issues with other clubs across Scotland cutting away ticket allocations.
For many seasons now, clubs across the country have embarked on a what looks like a ridiculous crusade to limit how many away supporters are allowed to take up and Celtic supporters have suffered plenty.
Celtic fans have campaigned for fairer away ticket prices across all stadiums including at Parkhead as clubs look to benefit from visiting supporters.
However, what Hibs did at the weekend as thousands of Celtic fans were denied a ticket to Easter Road is baffling considering their current financial results.
Hibs recorded losses of £7.2m as Celtic fans were locked out of Easter Road
Hibs’ latest financial records do not make great reading. In fact, they look a lot worse than what the Easter Road stand looked like on Sunday afternoon.
Here are the highlights according to the club’s official figures posted on Companies House:
- Overall losses: £7.2m
- Double previous year losses of £3.8m
- Football revenue: £15.8m up from £12.3m
- Wages: £12.6m up from £10.07m
Despite football revenue being up on the previous season, the losses Hibs have incurred are huge as they look like a club who cannot afford to turn away paying customers.
Now Hibs fans have come away with their usual nonsense about looking after their own first, and they are perfectly entitled to do that and fair play to them for it.
But when they have looked after their own fans first and there are still thousands of empty seats lying empty, it makes no sense not to sell them to Celtic supporters with the possibility of raising more ticket and matchday revenue.
The SPFL away ticket allocation is more than just a Celtic issue
This is affecting fans of most clubs in the Scottish Premiership but it hits Celtic and Rangers supporters harder.
However, this is more than just about not allowing more rival fans into the stadium. It’s such a poor look for our game. Especially when Sky Sports are televising it to the nation.
How can the SPFL help tackle the embarrassing issue of away ticket allocations? Have your say in the comments.
Empty stands make Scottish football look tinpot when it’s widely known that there are thousands of fans who could be attending the game, but are being denied the opportunity to do so.
Many will wonder why Sky Sports will not pay a premium for Scottish football, instances like this do our game absolutely no favours at all.
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