The SFA have decided to keep Hampden as opposed to switch to Murrafield, but they forgot another scenario – Scotland playing at Ibrox.
Many Rangers fans won’t want the national team playing at their home ground. Relationships are already soured between the club’s fans and the national team.
The treatment of Ryan Jack over the last week has been nothing short of disgraceful. But, it’s quite incredible that the SFA don’t want to take their Scotland show on the road.
Think back to when Hampden was being used in 2014 for other activities, Scotland had to find other home venues to play at. Ibrox was one of them as they hosted Georgia.
The atmosphere was electric and the Scots ran out 1-0 winners. It could’ve been more, and they were extremely impressive inside a cauldron of noise. Surprise surprise, however, the SFA have since not bothered trying to use it again.
It’s a terrific stadium with a fantastic ability to generate top atmospheres. Granted, Hampden is the home stadium, and that’s fine, but other than Pittodrie on one occasion, Scotland haven’t bothered trying to play anywhere else.
Even at Celtic Park where they beat Ireland 1-0, the atmosphere was terrific in a successful night for the country. Some of our best performances in recent years have come away from Hampden.
There’s not a lot to like about the national stadium these days. It’s run-down and supporters aren’t happy with the lay-out of the stadium.
Ibrox, on the other hand, would help that massively. I’m not saying turn the Rangers stadium into Scotland’s main home ground. Rangers fans don’t want that and the club won’t want that.
But, if the SFA had their wits about them, which these days is asking much, they would try the experiment more often. Too often has the national team went for the status quo. It’s these kind of decisions that have led them to consistent failure.
To sum up, Scotland can do a lot worse than play a few more games at a raucous Ibrox. It won’t happen though. Instead, Scotland fans will just have to put up with more Hampden suffering because why change?
