Former Celtic and Scottish internationalist Kenny Dalglish believes that either Celtic Park or Ibrox should be used as a Scottish Cup final venue, with it being revealed that Hampden will not be able to host supporters come May as a test event.
Writing in his column for the Sunday Post, Dalglish thinks that with one of the two sides being knocked out at the fourth round stage, it would make sense to use one of the venues as a chance to allow fans to attend the cup final next month.
“I’m angry that allowances can’t be made by UEFA to hand Hampden Park over for the showpiece Final.
“I mean, the Final is 23 days before the opening Euro fixture in Mount Florida between Scotland and the Czechs on June 14.
“Does Hampden really needed to be handed over on May 14? Can allowances not be made to stage the Final of a 147-year-old competition?
“If the government and the scientific intelligence indicates that we could have supporters inside Hampden, but UEFA won’t allow it, then we need to look at moving to another stadium.
“Surely that makes sense.
“After the year that we’ve had, it would be an injustice if fans were denied seeing this game, having already had two Finals this season inside an empty Hampden.”
With Rangers hosting Celtic at Ibrox on Saturday in the Fourth Round, we know there will not be an Old Firm Final.
“That means that at least Ibrox or Celtic Park will be available, if not both.
“Given Holyrood’s concession for the Euros, that would allow upwards of 10,000 fans being allowed in.
“However, if we were looking at, say, a Kilmarnock-Livingston Final, then we could look at Tannadice or Tynecastle or Easter Road.”
Earlier in the week, plans were accepted to allow at least 17,000 supporters inside Hampden Park for this summers European Championship fixtures.
So, ahead of the tournament, the cup final felt like the ideal chance to use as a test event with fans inside venues.
With Hampden being handed over to UEFA ahead of the tournament, this is no longer possible in the countries National Stadium.
It would make sense, no matter who the final is contested between to at least use this game as a test before the Euros. After such a tough year away from football, watching games behind closed doors, it is probably the least fans deserve.
