Ben Kensell, Hibs CEO, recently addressed the possibility of reducing the number of tickets allocated to Celtic and Rangers fans during the club’s AGM—a meeting that also saw Bill Foley’s £6million investment get the green light from shareholders.
The topic has gained traction among the Hibs community, particularly due to concerns over the behavior of visiting supporters, including the use of pyrotechnics and instances of sectarian singing.
Currently, Hibs offer the entire south stand to fans of Celtic and Rangers, equating to about 3,500 seats. This is in stark contrast to the approach taken by Hearts, who have limited away tickets to just 600 for all clubs, excluding Hibs.
When pressed on whether Hibs might adopt a similar policy, Kensell noted the club’s right within the SPFL to adjust allocations as they see fit.
He made it clear the importance of dialogue, both with the fans on this issue and with the clubs directly affected, before making any decisions. “We heard that and will act appropriately, once we’ve had a chance to discuss it…It’s our prerogative if we want to do that if we want to. We’ll discuss it with the clubs in question,” Kensell stated, acknowledging the feedback received during the AGM.
On tackling sectarian singing, Kensell advocated for a united approach among clubs to address and eliminate this issue from Scottish football. He told RecordSport “I think it’s something that we, as a collective, need to understand. How can we eradicate this from our game? Because it should be about what happens on the pitch,” he remarked, highlighting the collective responsibility to foster a positive match-day environment.
However, it’s crucial to reflect on the broader implications of reducing away ticket allocations. While intended to manage fan behavior, such measures could inadvertently harm the vibrant atmosphere that away supporters bring to matches.
The SPFL might be undermining itself if these policies lead to fewer filled seats, considering that not all clubs see an increase in home fans occupying the spaces left by restricted away support. This situation underscores the need for balance—ensuring fan safety and maintaining the lively spirit that makes Scottish football uniquely captivating.
Another own goal by the GB pyro/IRA mob.
They won’t care.
Incredibly they stilli continue to be supplied with away tickets by Celtic and fawned over by the supposed SLO who is nothing but a GB apologist.
Decent, genuine fans are being driven out of being able to support the club in away matches.