Joe Harper is furious at the SPFL for refusing to give Rangers and Aberdeen a 50-50 distribution of tickets for the Viaplay Cup final.
The Dons were allotted 19,000 seats for the game, while the Light Blues were given 25,000.
As a result, Harper has called for all clubs, with the exception of the two Old Firm clubs, to band together and join the SPFL.
“The SPFL’s refusal to grant Aberdeen’s request for a 50-50 split of tickets for the Viaplay Cup final is a disgrace,” Harper told the Press and Journal. Instead, the SPFL declared that the Dons would receive only 19,500 tickets for the final at Hampden on December 17, while Rangers would receive 25,000.
“All other clubs outside Rangers and Celtic should join together to stop this practice of an unbalanced ticket allocation. There should be strength in numbers to push for change, because to giving one team more tickets for a final is completely unacceptable.
“Especially when that team, Aberdeen, have requested a 50-50 split and sold 43,000 tickets for the 2014 League Cup final. Aberdeen requested time to sell a 50% split of the tickets for next month’s final. And if they didn’t achieve that then the remaining tickets would go to Rangers – with plenty of time to sell them on.
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“They shouldn’t even have to ask for a 50-50 split – it should be an automatic given. This ticket fiasco is embarrassing for Scottish football.
“The SPFL appear to think they are a law unto themselves and can do what they want. Other clubs should join together to show them they can’t.”
Cup finals are often the pinnacle of a team’s journey, representing the culmination of efforts throughout the competition.
An equal distribution of ticket revenue ensures that both participating clubs benefit equitably, acknowledging their collective contributions to the event’s spectacle.
Financial parity becomes crucial for clubs of varying sizes and financial capacities, allowing smaller or less affluent teams to access a more significant share of the revenue, fostering a more level playing field in the broader context of football economics.
The 50-50 split promotes competitiveness, enabling clubs to reinvest their earnings back into player development, facilities, and community initiatives and that’s the spirit of football and what makes it the greatest game in the world.
While Rangers undoubtedly have the larger fanbase, it’s not like Aberdeen will not be able to fill their section as it’s a bigger deal for their supporters.
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