Celtic and Rangers to play semi-finals at Hampden just hours apart

Fans predict ‘carnage’ as Celtic and Rangers are scheduled to play Betfred Cup semi-finals at Hampden Park just hours apart due to fixture congestion

  • Both Betfred Cup semi-finals will take place at Hampden Park on the same day
  • Hearts vs Celtic will kick off just hours after Rangers vs Aberdeen on October 28
  • Some fans took to Twitter to predict possible trouble between rival supporters
  • Two domestic semi-finals have never been staged at Hampden on the same day

Both Betfred Cup semi-finals will take place at Hampden Park on the same day next month with Celtic and Rangers in action just hours apart.

Rangers will meet Aberdeen at noon on Sunday, October 28, before Hearts face Celtic at 7.45pm.

Should the first match require extra-time it could go on until 2.30pm, which may make the clean-up operation difficult.

Some Rangers supporters let off flares during a Premiership match at Celtic on April 29, 2018

Celtic fans celebrated beating Rangers earlier this month after Olivier Ntcham hit the winner

Celtic fans celebrated beating Rangers earlier this month after Olivier Ntcham hit the winner

Another concern is policing, with four sets of rival fans set to populate the Mount Florida area of Glasgow.  

Both games were scheduled for Sunday due to Celtic and Rangers being involved in the Europa League on the Thursday before.

Celtic travel to Germany to play RB Leipzig on Thursday, October 25, while Rangers host Spartak Moscow. 

Two domestic semi-finals have never been staged at Hampden Park on the same day.

Celtic and Rangers have not both played in Glasgow on the same day since 1983.

After news of the fixture timings broke, some fans took to Twitter to predict possible trouble.

One wrote: ‘So you’re gonna have Rangers & possibly Aberdeen fans still hanging about pubs around Hampden when Celtic & Hearts fans start rocking up. This’ll be carnage.’

Another posted: ‘Rangers, Aberdeen, Celtic and Hearts all at Hampden on the same day. This is going to be a disaster.’

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