Aberdeen chief executive Duncan Fraser has said he expected Aberdeen to get 50% of the tickets for the league cup semi against Rangers on 28th October.
The Dons supremo isn’t happy at the 12pm on a Sunday scheduling but he has been quick to speak out on ticketing.
Fraser told the BBC, “Our expectation would be a 50-50 allocation to start with,” said Fraser.
“Historically, many years ago a group of Aberdeen supporters fought with the Scottish FA to ensure that Aberdeen received a 50-50 allocation.”
Travel arrangements overplayed by Dons
It really says enough about the Aberdeen fans that they’re complaining about scheduling. Whilst they may have a point – Aberdeen is 150 miles from Glasgow and the first train on the day arrives 14 minutes before kick off – these are football fans we’re talking about.
Almost every time Rangers play at Pittodrie it’s 12:30pm on a Sunday. And every time we play at Pittodrie fans travel in their thousands.
By plane, train and automobile Rangers fans traverse the globe to follow their team. For Aberdeen, the Board are arguing for and catering to supporters who’re only interested because it’s a semi. That’s fair enough, but you have to question their commitment.
The most diehard among them will be there regardless.
But will it be enough to fill their half of 50,000 seater Hampden?
Asking for 50/50 is fair enough
You can’t blame Fraser for asking for an even split of the tickets. If all is to go right, Aberdeen will find a way to get their fans into the ground on time. I’ve no doubt they could fill it and they’d have the numbers.
Whether they will is another question.
There have been numerous grumbles from Dons fans and the Board themselves about the scheduling of the cup semis. For all the trouble involved, many who would traditionally turn out might back off. Being a Sunday people have work the next day. Then again, so do most of the Rangers fans who travel up to Aberdeen two Sundays a year.
At the end of the day the responsibility to fill the end falls on their fans. And we’ll see just how dedicated they are at the end of the month.
Whatever happens, the double Betfred Cup semi-final Sunday is all set to be a cracker.
