Aberdeen have described the decision to schedule their Betfred Cup semi-final against Rangers for a noon kick-off as “appalling” and “inappropriate”.
The SPFL announced yesterday that both semi-finals would take place at Hampden on Sunday, October 28 with the Dons taking on Rangers in the lunchtime kick-off before Celtic meet Hearts in the second semi-final at the national stadium at 7.45pm.
Neither semi-final can be played on Saturday, October 27 due to Rangers and Celtic’s involvement in the Europa League. Both clubs will be on European duty on October 25.
Police Scotland have given their approval to both games taking place at the national stadium but advised that the tie between the Dons and Rangers should take place first.
An Aberdeen spokesman said: “As a club we have repeatedly asked that the authorities stop giving us kick-off times which, for our large travelling support, are completely unacceptable, but yet again, what should be a showpiece occasion, is scheduled to start at a time that does not take supporters into account.
“While we appreciate Police Scotland was insistent that our game was played first for operational reasons, we believe, and stated along with others, that having both games in the same stadium on the same day, is inappropriate.
“There are other options that should have been investigated further, including staging the two games on consecutive weekends or using two different venues which would have allowed kick-off times more suitable for what are hugely significant occasions in the Scottish football calendar.”
The statement added: “We appreciate the authorities have a difficult job to schedule games in what is an extremely congested calendar but to yet again ask our supporters to be in Glasgow for a 12 noon start on a Sunday is, quite frankly, appalling.”
Murrayfield was touted as a possible venue for one of the semi-finals but SPFL secretary Iain Blair said the SPFL was contractually obliged to bring both semi-finals to Hampden, ensuring using the national stadium was the only solution.