No fans if Hibs make Scottish Cup final as SFA make decision on 2020/21 showpiece match

The 2020/21 Scottish Cup final will be played behind closed doors at Hampden Park.
Ryan Porteous celebrates with his Hibs team-mates after scoring the winning penalty against Motherwell. Picture: SNSRyan Porteous celebrates with his Hibs team-mates after scoring the winning penalty against Motherwell. Picture: SNS
Ryan Porteous celebrates with his Hibs team-mates after scoring the winning penalty against Motherwell. Picture: SNS

According to various reports on Tuesday morning, the Scottish Football Association has decided to keep the showpiece event at the national stadium despite the opportunity for supporters if it were played elsewhere.

The SFA has spent several weeks in talks with Scottish Rugby over a potential use of BT Murrayfield and with Celtic chiefs after the Parkhead side were eliminated by rivals Rangers.

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Defeat for Steven Gerrard’s men against St Johnstone at the weekend also opens the possibility of Ibrox as a venue. However, the governing body has decided that the price of renting out another ground would prove too costly and not worth it just to get 2,000 supporters in attendance when lockdown restrictions are eased again on May 17.

Hampden Park cannot house spectators as the venue will be handed over to Uefa on May 14 for preparations ahead of this summer’s European Championships. The stadium will host four matches, including Scotland’s group matches against Czech Republic and Croatia.

This season’s Scottish Cup final will take place on Saturday, May 22. Hibs are the new favourites to lift the trophy after Rangers were knocked out by St Johnstone on Sunday evening. The Ibrox side lost on penalties a day after Jack Ross’ men managed to defeat Motherwell through the same method.

On Monday evening, St Mirren became the third quarter-finals to triumph on spot kicks, defeating Kilmarnock. Dundee United, who’ll face Hibs in the semi-final, knocked out Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

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