"Extreme disappointment" over Dons ticket allocation and prices for League Cup final

The details of December's cup final clash against Rangers have been revealed but it's amounted in some anger amongst Dons fans.

The SPFL announced today, November 8, that Rangers would be allocated around 25,000 tickets at Hampden with Aberdeen securing approximately 19,500 - some 5,000 less than their opponents.

Aberdeen Football Club released a statement shortly after expressing their "extreme disappointment and frustration" at the decision.

The statement from AFC said: "The Club robustly put its case to the SPFL to treat both teams fairly with an even share of tickets, given Hampden is a neutral venue and, as such, presented an option that would split the allocation for the match evenly between both competing finalists."

"The proposal suggested AFC hold back five sections on the east side of the North Stand, selling them to Dons supporters should demand require it. If, however, by an agreed date it was clear that wasn’t going to be the case, the tickets could then be allocated to our opponents in plenty of time in which to sell them.

"Much to our extreme disappointment and frustration, this proposal was rejected by the SPFL, who cited operational challenges and attendances at previous Semi Finals/Finals as the principal reasons for their determination.

"As a result, Aberdeen will have up to 19,500 tickets covering the South Stand (lower and upper sections) and the East Stand."

It wasn't just ticket allocation causing backlash - supporters voiced their disbelief at the pricing of tickets with some reaching £49 for a seat at the big game.

Dons Supporters Together spokesperson Steve Wilson said it should be a "50/50 split" at a neutral national stadium.

He said: "They've said they've kept the prices the same as last year, I wasn't aware that was the prices last year.

"Again, you've got a cost-of-living crisis at the moment. It's the week before Christmas, the Aberdeen fans are going to have to be travelling. So, they've got the added expense of buses, cars, whereas it's near enough a home game for Rangers fans.

"Aberdeen tries to be a family club it does a lot with the Community Trust and they help a lot with people who are disadvantaged money-wise and other ways as well. I think there's got to be a bit of realism here £44 for a ticket is a lot of money for a ticket a week before Christmas I am absolutely astounded."

The SPFL defended their decision by citing ticket sales at previous finals and operational challenges.

A spokesperson for the SPFL said: "Firstly, we would like to congratulate both Rangers and Aberdeen for reaching the final of the Viaplay Cup after two fantastic semi-finals.

“Deciding ticketing allocations for cup finals is always a challenging task, as more fans invariably want to attend than the stadium can accommodate.

“We take a range of factors into consideration, including the number of tickets each club sells in the semi-finals, as well as their historic ticket sales in any previous League Cup finals and semi-finals.

“In addition, the design of the stadium and its ability to split sections is a major factor which influences our decisions, together with input from safety and security authorities to ensure fan safety and appropriate segregation.”