NafisaChris Sutton has launched a scathing criticism of Hibernian after the club’s decision to restrict Celtic’s away ticket allocation came under fresh scrutiny during Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash at Easter Road.
The former Celtic striker was left unimpressed by the sight of empty seats inside the stadium, particularly with travelling Hoops supporters having been allocated far fewer tickets than they received for previous visits to Edinburgh.
And Sutton was not alone in questioning the arrangement, with Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker also highlighting the situation during the live broadcast.
With Celtic supporters facing restricted access to a match they wanted to attend, the sight of vacant seats in the stands raised an uncomfortable question for Hibs: why were more tickets not made available to the visiting support?
The debate unfolded during an eventful afternoon in Edinburgh, where Martin O’Neill’s side eventually secured a 2-1 victory to maintain their position at the top of the Premiership.
However, the controversy surrounding the away allocation provided another talking point, with Sutton delivering a blunt verdict on the decision.
Chris Sutton Delivers Brutal Verdict on Hibs’ Celtic Ticket Policy
Crocker first drew attention to the situation while commentating on the match, questioning why Celtic had been allocated so few tickets despite the visible space inside Easter Road.
“Well, Celtic only have 1,500 fans at Easter Road, yet they’re in a stand that’s half-empty. That makes sense, doesn’t it?” he said.
Sutton was equally critical, arguing that restricting the number of visiting supporters when seats remain unoccupied does little to improve the matchday experience.
“It’s crazy, really, isn’t it? Depriving fans of… fans who want to come and watch football. Not good to see those empty seats,” the former Celtic striker responded.
His comments put the spotlight back on Hibernian’s approach to away ticket allocations, which has become a contentious issue among supporters.
For Celtic fans, the frustration centres on being unable to secure tickets in the numbers they might previously have expected, while sections of the ground remain visibly empty.
Sutton’s reaction reflected that concern, with the pundit questioning the logic of limiting access for supporters who want to attend Scottish football matches.
Hibs Reduced Celtic’s Away Allocation From Almost 4,000 Tickets
Celtic were officially allocated 1,699 tickets for Sunday’s fixture, a significant reduction from previous visits when the travelling support could occupy a much larger section of Easter Road.
The Hoops were previously allocated close to the entire South Stand, with approximately 3,800 to 4,000 supporters able to attend.
Hibernian subsequently reduced the away allocation as part of an effort to make more seats available to their own supporters.
However, the empty sections visible during Sunday’s match have raised questions about whether the policy is achieving its intended purpose.
The issue is particularly sensitive because restricting the visiting support only makes commercial sense if the additional tickets can be sold to home supporters.
Hibernian chief executive Dan Barnett has previously acknowledged that the club could lose between £150,000 and £200,000 annually when additional home tickets made available through the reduced away allocation remain unsold.
That financial consideration adds another dimension to the controversy, with the club potentially sacrificing revenue while travelling supporters miss out on tickets.
Storm Boelo also brought severe weather and travel disruption across Scotland, providing another factor affecting the matchday circumstances.
Nevertheless, the empty seats prompted Crocker and Sutton to question the arrangement, bringing renewed attention to the debate over how many tickets Celtic should receive for visits to Easter Road.
Celtic Beat Hibs as Martin O’Neill Restores Four-Point Lead
Away from the ticket controversy, Celtic had plenty to celebrate after fighting back to claim a 2-1 victory.
Owen Elding gave Hibernian an early lead, but a Jason Kerr own goal brought Celtic level before Camilo Durán struck the winner in the first half.
The result secured three important points for O’Neill’s side and restored their four-point advantage over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
However, the match will also be remembered for the questions raised over Hibernian’s ticketing arrangements.
Sutton’s criticism has added further pressure to a policy that was already attracting scrutiny, particularly given the apparent mismatch between the number of seats available and the number of visiting supporters permitted inside the stadium.
For Celtic fans, the argument is straightforward: if thousands more supporters previously attended these fixtures, and empty seats remain under the current arrangement, the decision to restrict the away allocation deserves serious scrutiny.
Whether Hibernian will reconsider its approach remains to be seen, but Sunday’s broadcast has ensured the debate is back in the spotlight.
Nafisa
