SFA Statement re Ticket Allocation

[ian1964 10,409]

RangersFirst ANZ ‏@RfcFirstAusKiwi

 

@GersnetOnline @jonnythegreek Their fans chief Scott Innes (pictured here) will be quaking in his boots no doubt. pic.twitter.com/DQd1oTj4Wv

 

[chilledbear 16]

When did people in Scotland turn into moaning bastards?

[ian1964 10,409]

When did people in Scotland turn into moaning bastards?

 

When it's anything to do with Rangers!

[ian1964 10,409]

Dundee United chief Stephen Thompson claims fighting with SFA is a 'waste of energy' as he calls for truce over Scottish Cup ticket row

 

THE Tannadice chairman also made a move to clear up any confusion over his remark that the SFA had been economical with the truth regarding how many tickets had been offered to United.

 

DUNDEE UNITED chairman Stephen Thompson last night called a truce over his war of words with the SFA, claiming it’s a waste of energy.

 

The Tannadice chief had slammed the SFA for snubbing his request to swap their Scottish Cup clash with Rangers from Ibrox to Celtic Park and accused the governing body of being “economical with the truth” over ticketing issues – although he has now backed down from that statement.

 

In a series of public statements between Thompson and the SFA over the choice of venue and ticket allocation for the April 12 semi-final, Hampden bosses claimed United declined their original allocation and asked for fewer seats, with an option to sell more.

 

The SFA claimed United had rejected an initial offering of 11,063 tickets, indicating they would initially want just over 8000.

 

But a furious Thompson disputed that as United boss Jackie McNamara weighed into the row by insisting the tournament organisers had made a mistake by announcing venues so early in the season and called for an even ticket share.

 

But Thompson said: “If Rangers had been asked to play Celtic at Celtic Park in a Scottish Cup semi-final I’m sure they wouldn’t have been happy.

 

“But I don’t want a battle with Rangers or the SFA. A change of venue isn’t going to happen and to go on about it any more would be a waste of energy.

 

“I felt I had to raise the matter on behalf of our supporters. I’ve now spoken to two people in positions of authority and I’m appreciative of the constructive conversation I had with them.

 

“From now on whatever we have to say to each other will be conducted in private.”

 

Thompson has also moved to clear up any confusion over his remark that the SFA had been economical with the truth regarding how many tickets for Ibrox were offered to Dundee United.

 

He said: “I now accept that a misunderstanding has arisen over what was said at the operations meeting held on March 11.”

 

Now the SPFL board member will get on with selling United’s allocation and wait to see if they need to request more.

 

United have announced lawyer David McGrory has been appointed to the Tannadice board as a non-executive director.

 

The lifelong United fan is a partner in the commercial law firm Maclay Murray & Spens LLP, specialising in corporate governance and finance cases.

 

McGrory helped strike last month’s deal with the wealthy fans who agreed to provide the cash to wipe out the club’s £4million debts owed to the bank.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dundee-united-chief-stephen-thompson-3262903

[chilledbear 16]

When it's anything to do with Rangers!

 

They have a chip on their shoulder about everything and anything, neither will they admit when they are wrong.

[andy steel 0]

Well, that's all ended with Thomson and United looking like twats.

 

You could gloat a bit, but it's just so childish it's no real. I do like the way United are spinning this as constructive and they'll talk in private from now on: bottom line is, they've come out of this looking ridiculous.

[ian1964 10,409]

Dundee United fans' dilemma as they demand fair share of semi-final tickets but worry over dangers at 'neutral' Ibrox

 

Safety fears and, surprisingly, sympathy for opposition supporters caught up in a row not of their making. We may be weeks away from the Scottish Cup semi-final between Dundee United and Rangers – but the ticket row sparked by the SFA's decision to use Ibrox as a 'neutral venue' is already turning the tie into a steady source of controversy.

 

When United finally do set foot inside the Light Blues' den for their last-four encounter in Scotland's top knock-out competition, how many of their fans will be there backing them?

 

According to Arab Trust chairman Steven Hughes, the final figure may owe as much to security concerns as the eventual allocation afforded the Tannadice side.

 

'Some people say they're definitely going,' said Hughes. 'But other people are nervous from a safety perspective. I actually think one of the biggest risks is fan safety.

 

'Personally, I'm OK going. But I usually go with my eight-year-old nephew and his father is asking if I really want to take him, if it's going to be a safe family environment.

 

'We've worked hard at putting on family buses, things like that, to make sure families can enjoy their day out.

 

'But that will impact the crowd more than anything else. If people don't have the perception that they'll be safe going to the game, that will certainly put some people off.

 

'I would like to hope that the Glasgow police will make sure that the safety of United fans is one of the priorities if the game is still played at Ibrox.

 

'We are going to have to play them eventually. But I would hope, by the time Rangers return to the top flight, the level of vitriol would be reduced. It's going to be a tough one, our first time going back.'

 

There remains a perception among some sections of the Rangers support that United chairman Stephen Thompson was – after meetings with the Arab Trust, the third largest shareholder in the club – instrumental in blocking plans to fast-track them back into the top flight following their financial meltdown two years ago. Hughes told Sportsmail: 'This will be the first time we've played at Ibrox since Rangers went into administration/liquidation.

 

'Having been involved in some of the meetings prior to the club deciding to vote against Rangers, if you want it put it that way, the tone changed massively two years ago.

 

'The level of hatred – and it's a terrible word to use – that Rangers fans have towards Celtic has been known for a long time.

 

'There is also a massive dislike towards Aberdeen. And I would say that United are now very much in that company.

 

'It's the first time we've played them at Ibrox and, although we played them last year, it was completely different, with only a few hundred Rangers fans at Tannadice.

 

'This time we're going back to Ibrox where, depending on ticket sales, there could be upwards of 30,000 Rangers fans.

 

'It's an environment that, having gone there for many years, is never the most pleasant – and I can imagine this will be the most hostile that we've ever faced in our time going there.'

 

Despite the concerns, Hughes says he expects demand to be high for a tie quickly taking on the tone of a grudge match, declaring: 'The comment in the recent SFA statement about the numbers we took to the Raith Rovers and Celtic games is a red herring.

 

'I think the demand to go and see Rangers will be higher given the tension that has existed between the two teams over recent years, notwithstanding that most of the tension has come from the Rangers side. There are definitely a lot of people very keen to go and see the game.'

 

It that only offers proof of the enduring box-office appeal of animosity, there are those among the United fan base willing to see the other side of the argument – acknowledging that, while they may be divided by club loyalties, supporters are bound together by a shared love of the game.

 

'I think most of us feel for Old Firm fans who have season tickets but who just can't get tickets for semi-finals or finals,' said Mark McMahon, secretary of the Federation of Dundee United Supporters Clubs.

 

'That's been the case since Adam was a boy, I know, but it's still tough on guys who pay their money to watch their team every week, yet are often denied a place at the big cup games.

 

'But for the good of sport and football in Scotland, you've got to make a semi-final or final as fair as possible.

 

'This has nothing at all to do with Rangers or the way people might feel about relations between our clubs.

 

'It's just a fact that most non-Old Firm clubs in Scotland feel that a semi-final or final should be played on as level a playing field as possible.

 

'I think the general feeling among Dundee United supporters is that this game should be at a neutral ground. And it probably should have been sorted out in October, because it would have avoided accusations of sour grapes.

 

'I'm not sure why it couldn't have been arranged, way back then, that if Rangers got to a semi-final or final it should be played at Celtic Park, if Celtic got there it should be played at Ibrox – and if it was an Old Firm game they should toss a coin to decide the venue.

 

'But I think the sales will be good for this game. I think, if we had the opportunity, we would take more people through to this semi-final than we have to other semis in the past.

 

'There are definitely a lot of United fans who want to go to this game, to show their colours after the boycotts and such like last year, which was pretty sad for football.

 

'I know that my own club is taking more bookings for buses than for any other semi-final I can remember. And I think there is that chance of fans putting pressure on the SFA by snapping up tickets.

 

'A lot don't like going to Glasgow for games because of various incidents down the years, policing and things like that.

 

'But I think they realise that it would help the club's case if we sold out our allocation quickly.'

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2584829/Dundee-United-fans-dilemma-demand-fair-share-semi-final-tickets-worry-dangers-neutral-Ibrox.html#ixzz2wUG46vjO

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I still can't believe this pish made the press!

[26th of foot 5,827]

The Daily Mail were flagging Thompson's climb down last evening.

 

The combined articles by self proclaimed Motherwell supporter, John Greechan screams news management. Evoking safety, particularly the safety of youngsters is a tactic lifted from the Residents Handbook. Phil McNumerousnames regularly utilises crying children when portraying scenarios. I suspect the usual suspects will grab at this new comfort blanket over the next three weeks. Further, I expect our club to comment on both these 'safety concerns' articulated by both Thompson and the Arabs Trust chief, Steven Hughes

 

Another observation, it would appear Stephen Thompson's megaphone, Foghorn Jumhorn has been bye passed? Ah mean, John Greechan has firm credentials as a long term Rangers hater; but Foghorn Jumhorn's "ah say, ah say, whatever Stephen says" is soooo familiarly conditioning.

 

Any Gersnetter with the appropriate skills, able to construct a Foghorn Leghorn superimposed with Jum Spence's visog?

[amms 0]

Let me understand this. They claim to be frightened for their safety visiting Glasgow, so they want more tickets. Really? Is that so more of them can be frightened for their safety, so more fans can be put in danger by those big bad angry Rangers fans who might shout bad words at them.

I mean if you are so frightened that you don't want to bring your children along then why do you want more tickets? I'm sure there's logic somewhere, but I'm fucked if I can find it.

Of course maybe it's just more made up shite from a club that have specialised in made up shite in recent years.

[ian1964 10,409]

Let me understand this. They claim to be frightened for their safety visiting Glasgow, so they want more tickets. Really? Is that so more of them can be frightened for their safety, so more fans can be put in danger by those big bad angry Rangers fans who might shout bad words at them.

I mean if you are so frightened that you don't want to bring your children along then why do you want more tickets? I'm sure there's logic somewhere, but I'm fucked if I can find it.

Of course maybe it's just more made up shite from a club that have specialised in made up shite in recent years.

 

When Rangers visit Tannadump do they leave their kids at home?,or do they just cover their ears when they are chanting about the HUNS?, or do they encourage the kids to join in?.