SFA Chief Ian Maxwell has admitted to was the SFA’s preference to play the Scottish Cup final at 3pm but blames external factors for the showpiece event being moved from its traditional spot.
The English FA Cup between the two Manchester clubs kicks off at 3 pm on the same day and the broadcaster ViaPlay has decided not to compete with viewers for that game but instead make Scotland play second fiddle.
Celtic fans are no stranger to a 5:30pm kick off in the cup competitions at Hampden. It has been normal for Premier sports and now ViaPlay to give us non traditional kick off times.
However, doing it in the final feels like a slap in the face. For Maxwell, it was a case of, ‘oh well, what can you do’.
Maxwell told SunSport: “The Scottish FA’s preference was for three o’clock on a Saturday.
“There are obviously external factors that play a part in any decision about kick-off times and kick-off times have changed. No longer is every game kick-off at three o’clock, there are games played at various times.
“It’s the end of our Week of Football, it’s very much a flagship competition for us. It signals the end of the Scottish season. We want to give it as much airtime in its own space as possible.
“The English FA Cup Final is on at three o’clock, the Women’s Champions League Final is at three o’clock. So you have a decision to make: do you go up against them and diminish the competition and reduce the viewership that you could get across the UK or do you move it and try and give it its own breathing space? That’s what we decided to do.
“We would have preferred it at three o’clock but in terms of the gravitas and the scale we can showcase the game, we felt moving it gave us the best opportunity to do that.
“We engaged with Inverness before the decision was made, they were happier with a later kick-off than an earlier kick-off.
“I am delighted they have recently announced their agreement with Scotrail that will see them put on additional transport to make sure everyone can get back home – and that’s been a positive.”
Maxwell talks about engaging with Inverness, but it’s CeltsAreHere’s understanding the Scottish Champions weren’t consulted.
Celtic fans have the overwhelming majority of tickets for the cup final. The bhoys are verging on 40k for a 50k stadium.
It’s sure to be a memorable occasion even with the kick off time. If Celtic win, they will land the treble under Ange Postecoglou. Inverness will want to spoil the party and the manager of the highland club, Billy Dodd’s, so happens to be a former Ibrox player and EBT recipient.
Fingers crossed Ange and his side can get the cup over the line.
