Rangers fans have been left fuming after Hibs slashed the Ibrox side’s allocation for the final Scottish Premiership game of the season.
Rangers found out the post-split fixtures this week and will end the season in Leith on Sunday the 17th of May.
The Hibees are in the hunt for a European place this season and are 17 matches unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership under former defender David Gray.
Having also won the last seven matches at Easter Road, Hibs are hoping to maximise the momentum amongst their support and Rangers have been directly impacted as a result.
Hibs cut Rangers ticket allocations as they hunt European place
In a statement to supporters, Hibs have confirmed that they’ve slashed the away allocations for travelling Dundee United and Rangers fans.
“The special atmosphere at Easter Road, combined with the team’s incredible run of form, has seen a greater demand for home tickets,” explain the Edinburgh club.
”As we look to create a raucous atmosphere for our final two home fixtures of the season, we have reduced our opponents’ away allocations to provide more tickets to Hibernian FC supporters!
”For both games against Dundee United and Rangers, Hibs supporters can purchase tickets in the South Stand.”
It’s believed that the move will impact 1300 travelling Rangers fans, with Hibs reducing the traditional 3800 strong allocation to 1500 as they hunt a 3rd place finish.
The move comes after Aberdeen cut Hibs’ away allocation for the clash at Pittodrie on 26th April, with the two sides currently locked in a battle for 3rd place.
Hibs started trend of cutting allocations back in 2018 against Rangers
Naturally the decision has irked Rangers fans who’d hoped to travel in their numbers to Edinburgh to see their team off at the end of the domestic season.
Whilst doubts surround the Hibees’ ability to actually sell the tickets, Ibrox supporters are well used to such pettiness over ticketing allocations.
Hibs kicked off this culture of allocation cutting back in April 2018, leaving Rangers fuming ahead of a famous 5-5 draw at Easter Road (BBC Sport).
But the Ibrox club would soon follow suit, cutting Celtic’s 7000 strong Broomloan allocation in the Old Firm derby to 800 the following season.
Rangers and Celtic have since struck a 5% agreement with Gers fans returning to watch their heroes record a famous 3-2 victory at Parkhead in March.
With Celtic fans set to return to Ibrox in May, perhaps it’s time for the SPFL to intervene and lay out clearer ground rules when it comes to stadium allocations.
Something doesn’t sit right with clubs being able to slash allocations at will mid-season and perhaps it’s time allocations were broadly agreed before a ball was kicked.
