NafisaHibernian’s decision to restrict away supporters at Easter Road has come under fresh scrutiny, with Kris Boyd questioning whether the club are missing out on a significant opportunity by refusing to give visiting teams their full ticket allocation.
The debate has become particularly relevant for Scottish football’s biggest travelling support, with Celtic and Rangers capable of bringing thousands of fans to away fixtures. While limiting the number of visiting supporters can change the atmosphere inside a stadium, Boyd believes Hibs could be sacrificing something valuable in the process.
His comments come after Celtic’s visit to Easter Road on Sunday, October 25, with the allocation given to the travelling support once again drawing attention.
And the former Rangers striker has made his position clear, arguing that Hibs could benefit considerably from allowing more away supporters through the turnstiles.
Kris Boyd questions Hibs’ away ticket decision
Boyd believes Hibs are missing out by not offering visiting teams their full allocation, particularly when Rangers and Celtic come to Edinburgh.
The former Scotland international argued that accommodating more away supporters could make a significant difference over the course of a season, both in terms of the matchday atmosphere and the potential financial benefits for the home club.
Speaking about the issue, Boyd said: “It’s a huge loss over the course of the season not to give the away team, especially Rangers and Celtic when they come here, the whole allocation.”
His comments highlight a debate that continues to divide Scottish football supporters: should clubs prioritise giving their own fans more seats, or maximise the number of travelling supporters who can attend high-profile matches?
For Hibs, restricting the away allocation means more tickets can potentially be made available to home supporters. However, Boyd believes the club should consider what it loses by not filling the available space with visiting fans.
Rangers and Celtic regularly attract substantial travelling support, making their visits among the most closely followed fixtures on the Scottish Premiership calendar.
Giving those clubs a larger allocation could increase the number of supporters attending Easter Road, while also contributing to the atmosphere surrounding matches that already carry considerable significance.
Why Rangers and Celtic supporters are central to the debate
The size of the travelling support brought by Rangers and Celtic makes their away fixtures a particularly important part of the discussion.
Both clubs have extensive supporter bases across Scotland, and their visits to grounds such as Easter Road can generate considerable demand for tickets.
For travelling supporters, a reduced allocation means fewer opportunities to attend matches in person. For the home club, meanwhile, the decision involves balancing access for its own supporters against the demand generated by visiting teams.
Boyd’s argument is that Hibs should look beyond the immediate question of how many seats are reserved for home fans and consider the overall impact of restricting away support throughout the campaign.
His use of the words “over the course of the season” is significant. Rather than focusing solely on one fixture, the former Rangers striker is pointing towards the cumulative effect of the policy across multiple home matches.
The argument also touches on the atmosphere inside Scottish football grounds. Large travelling support can add noise, colour and intensity to an occasion, particularly when traditional rivals or clubs with sizeable fanbases are involved.
However, increasing away allocations is not a straightforward decision for every club, as home supporters also expect access to tickets and clubs must manage the stadium space available to them.
Hibs face a familiar Scottish football dilemma
The dispute over away allocations has become a recurring issue in Scottish football, particularly when Rangers and Celtic visit grounds around the country.
Clubs must weigh the financial and atmospheric benefits of accommodating more travelling fans against the demand from their own supporters. Decisions can also become contentious when away allocations are reduced for matches that attract particularly strong interest.
Boyd’s intervention puts the focus firmly on what Hibs might be missing by limiting the number of visiting supporters allowed into Easter Road.
His comments are likely to resonate with fans who believe Scottish football should do more to accommodate travelling support, especially for matches that generate substantial demand.
At the same time, Hibs must consider the interests of their own supporters when deciding how tickets are distributed for home fixtures.
The debate is therefore unlikely to disappear quickly. With Rangers and Celtic continuing to attract significant travelling support, away ticket allocations will remain an important talking point whenever the clubs visit Edinburgh and other Scottish Premiership grounds.
For Boyd, though, the message is clear: Hibs could be losing out by refusing to give visiting teams their full allocation, and the consequences may be felt across the season rather than on just one matchday.
Nafisa
