SFA in talks to have fans at Scottish Cup ties in boost to Hearts, Hibs, Celtic and Aberdeen

The Scottish Cup could finish with fans inside Hampden Park.

The Scottish Cup semi-finals and final could be played in front of supporters if a test event is successful at Hampden Park in September.

The Scottish Football Association have approached the Government to allow fans to attend Scotland’s Nations League opener against Israel on September 4.

They want to test the feasibility of having some supporters inside the national stadium with a view to doing likewise for the rest of the Scottish Cup ties.

It was announced today that the competition’s semi-finals – in which Hearts meet Hibs and Celtic face Aberdeen – are scheduled for October 31 and November 1, with the final set for December 20.

The tournament was postponed earlier this year due to coronavirus and the SFA could lose up to £3m in revenue if fans do not return in the near future.

Ian Maxwell, the SFA chief executive, has held talks with senior officials at the Scottish Government about allowing the public into Hampden for matches.

“The Scottish Government has shown a clear willingness to get fans back when it's safe to do so,” he told BBC Scotland.

“You would like to think that given the games are a fairly significant length of time away, we will be able to see supporters in. What numbers they are, we don't know.

“Everyone is very keen to get as many supporters in as possible, so if we can get some in for the semi-final at the end of October, you would think by the final, those numbers will have increased.”

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