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Semi Final


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Both of this year's Scottish League Cup semi-finals will be played at Hampden Park on the same day in October.

Aberdeen will play Rangers at 12:00 GMT before Hearts face Celtic at 19:45 on Sunday, 28 October after talks between the clubs, Police Scotland and the Scottish Professional Football League.

SPFL secretary Ian Blair said this was the "best and most practical solution".

He added that Police Scotland advised that the Aberdeen v Rangers game should be played first.

The decision was taken because both Old Firm sides play Europa League group matches on Thursday, 25 October.

Despite being suggested as a possible venue, Murrayfield will not be used as the SPFL is contractually obliged to stage the semi-finals at Hampden unless advised otherwise by the police.

SPFL avoid 'major fixture congestion'

It will be the first time Celtic and Rangers have played in Glasgow on the same day since 1983, when they were involved in Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden and Celtic Park.

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

Blair said the SPFL had been "working hard with Police Scotland and Hampden Park" and "examined every possible permutation".

"Any alternative had the knock-on effect of causing major fixture congestion, not only for Celtic and Rangers, but for several other clubs," Blair continued in a statement.

"The fact both Celtic and Rangers are in Europe, and will hopefully be playing in the Europa League after the New Year, is obviously good news for Scottish football, but it does mean that our capacity for rescheduling games is significantly curtailed."

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I have just heard an interview with Neil Doncaster saying Police Scotland have supported this solution. They have been involved in the meeting that arrived at two games at one stadium in one day. I suspect Police Scotland will have most problems between 16.00hrs and 18.00hrs when supporters of all four teams will be intermingling in city centre pubs? My personal experience of the 2016 Scottish Cup final aftermath does not inspire confidence in Police Scotland to be able to handle the the challenges thrown up by these unique and particular circumstances. 

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