'Murrayfield should host Hearts-Hibs semi because it's Scotland's best stadium'

Former Hearts chairman Les Deans hopes the Scottish Cup semi-final can take place at Murrayfield.

Whenever the Scottish Cup semi-final between Hearts and Hibs takes place, former Tynecastle chairman Les Deans is adamant it should be played at BT Murrayfield.

Deans today supported comments from the Scottish Football Association President Rod Petrie suggesting the Edinburgh venue may be more sensible for the tie than Hampden Park.

Deans believes Murrayfield is the best stadium in the country and insisted 50,000 football fans travelling from the Capital to Glasgow and back makes no sense.

The Scottish Cup is on hold during football's coronavirus-enforced shutdown and there is no clear indication of when the semi-finals - involving Hearts, Hibs, Celtic and Aberdeen - might go ahead.

The all-Edinburgh tie was originally due to be played on Saturday, April 11, at Hampden. Deans told the Evening News why Murrayfield and its 67,000 capacity is a more logical option once football returns.

"I read Rod Petrie's comments about the Hearts-Hibs semi being played at Murrayfield and I think that is a totally sensible idea," said Deans, who chaired the Hearts board in the late 1990s.

"With all the difficulties facing the country at the moment, why should 50,000 people have to trek from Edinburgh to Glasgow and back? The best seated stadium in the whole of Scotland is right on our doorstep here in Edinburgh.

"That doesn't alter the fact that the game is not going to be played anywhere at the moment because of the social distancing regulations. It won't take place anywhere in front of an audience."

Deans acknowledged that the resumption of the national sport is some way off as authorities prioritise health and safety amid the global pandemic.

The SFA and Scottish Professional Football League are due to discuss the matter today with Scotland's Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, Joe Fitzpatrick.

"Football is not going to be treated as a priority. It will need to wait its place in the queue along with every other industry desperately trying to get up and running again," added Deans.

"Until such times as the risk is assessed and cut, I just don't see how football in front of paying spectators is going to be played for some considerable time yet."Petrie stated at the weekend that Murrayfield might be a better option for the Hearts-Hibs Scottish Cup semi. “We need to be open-minded enough to look at all considerations," he said."It may be that the risks of 50,000 people travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow is outweighed by other measures, but equally we need to do it in a manner that is fundamentally safe and creates a spectacle, and provides some income for the participating clubs. That’s important, too."