Caitlin Hayes blasts Rangers over away fan ban as Celtic star tells Ibrox club ‘don’t host if you can’t accommodate’
The Hoops had their away allocation cut the day before the SWPL clash at Ibrox
Rangers was criticized by Caitlin Hayes, who said that the team let women’s football down by canceling Celtic’s away tickets prior to yesterday’s game at Ibrox.
A sizable home crowd watched the Old Firm rivals play out an intriguing 1-1 draw in Govan, although the Hoops were forced to play without the support of the visiting supporters. After rumors circulated that some ‘risk’ supporters had bought tickets for the away end, Rangers declared 24 hours prior to the SWPL match that they had opted to cancel tickets due to safety concerns.
A handful of Celtic fans did manage to sneak their way into the stadium and one was spotted wearing a t-shirt that read ‘football without fans is nothing’ as Elena Sadiku’s side went over to applaud the three or four punters at full-time. Parkhead defender Hayes unveiled the same message, a nod to Jock Stein’s famous quote, under her strip before taking to social media last night.
She wrote: “Football without fans is nothing. Today women’s football in Scotland was let down. In a weekend where the Emirates was sold out and the growth of the game took an applause, the same could not be said 401 miles away.
“When the opponent isn’t given the same opportunity to be represented on stage, it is simply impossible to promote a fixture with the fictitious goal of growing the game.
“If you take away color, you’re depriving young girls in especially of the chance to see what they may become if they have that goal. That dream is inclusive of everyone, regardless of the color you wear, much like the pillars around which women’s football was constructed.
“No matter what the situation, if you can’t accommodate, arrange, and finance appropriately, don’t host. The game’s reputation is harmed in this situation. a reputation that we are ALL constructing together.”
