Empty seats hurting Premiership clubs and Scottish football

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·25 November 2024

Empty seats hurting Premiership clubs and Scottish football

Empty seats hurting Scottish Premiership clubs and Scottish football looks all the poorer for it…

Hearts v Celtic, 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

A televised Saturday night kick off, under the lights at an intimidating stadium such as Tynecastle. You had the league leaders going head-to-head with a relegation threatened Hearts side who always raise their game against the green and white Hoops.

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It would have been a huge draw with audiences and a welcome boost for Scottish football, but the downside was the visible lack of supporters as empty maroon seats were visible for all to see in the Roseburn stand, indeed in all the stands at Tynecastle.

Apologies for sounding like a broken record

Apologies for sounding like a broken record, but this is a major blunder by Hearts just like it is from the other sides in Scotland who continue to cut the allocation of Celtic supporters. Only 650 briefs were handed out to the Celtic supporters for the trip along the M8 and it remains a mystery why clubs such as Hearts continue to adopt such a self destructive approach.

Kyogo scores. Hearts v Celtic, 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

More Celtic supporters would have benefited the Hearts support too

Not only would those seats been filled by Celtic supporters if given the opportunity, it would have made for a better atmosphere while giving our game a more attractive look on television. The Gorgie club would have also made an extra few quid in the process.

Hopefully clubs such as Hearts come to their senses soon enough, as it will be in everyone’s best interests. St Johnstone is the first to wake up and smell the coffee now the rest of these clubs need to act decisively.

James Forrest is fouled inside the box. Hearts v Celtic, 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Celtic incidentally has a 100% win record away from home in the Scottish Premiership this season so opting for empty seats has helped not a single club in getting anything on the pitch against Brendan Rodgers’ excellent squad.

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