NafisaCeltic supporters hoping to watch their side take on Hibernian at Celtic Park on December 13 have been handed another reason to keep a close eye on the fixture calendar.
The Scottish Premiership meeting was already facing uncertainty following Rangers’ progression to the Premier Sports Cup final at Hampden. However, Sunday’s Edinburgh derby has now confirmed that the situation is even more complicated than initially expected.
Hibernian have beaten Hearts 2-1 to book their place in the final against Rangers, meaning both clubs will now be preparing for the Hampden showpiece on December 13.
That creates a significant scheduling problem for Celtic, whose league fixture against Hibs is currently scheduled for the same day.
And with Martin O’Neill’s side also facing European commitments during that period, finding a suitable alternative date could prove difficult.
Hibs’ victory creates a bigger problem for Celtic
The original possibility of Celtic simply moving their meeting with Hibernian back by 24 hours has now effectively disappeared.
Before the semi-final, there was a scenario in which Hearts could progress to the final and Hibs would remain available to face Celtic on Monday, December 14.
That would have offered the SPFL a relatively straightforward solution, allowing the Premiership fixture to be played without clashing with the cup final.
However, Hibs have now eliminated Hearts with a 2-1 victory, securing their place in the final against Rangers.
The Edinburgh side will therefore be involved in the Hampden showpiece on the same Sunday that they were originally scheduled to travel to Celtic Park.
That leaves Celtic’s December 13 league fixture without an obvious alternative.
The SPFL will now have to consider another date, taking into account the commitments of both clubs and the wider Scottish football calendar.
Celtic’s Europa League commitments complicate matters
One of the biggest obstacles facing the league organisers is Celtic’s European schedule.
O’Neill’s side are due to travel to Cyprus to face Omonia Nicosia on Thursday, December 10.
That makes moving the Hibernian fixture forward to Saturday, December 12, particularly problematic.
Celtic would have very little time between their European assignment and another competitive match, while the travel involved would make the turnaround even more demanding.
Moving the fixture backwards is not necessarily straightforward either, with the clubs’ existing commitments and the available calendar needing to be considered.
The situation could therefore require the SPFL to identify a completely different date rather than simply shifting the match by a day.
For Celtic, it means another change to an already busy period of the season, while supporters are left waiting to discover when they will actually be able to watch their team face Hibs.
Celtic supporters left waiting for official confirmation
The uncertainty will be particularly frustrating for supporters who have already made arrangements to attend the match.
Fans travelling from outside Glasgow may have booked transport, organised accommodation or made other plans around the original December 13 date.
With Hibs now confirmed as Rangers’ opponents in the cup final, those arrangements could need to change.
However, until the SPFL announces a revised date, supporters should not assume that the fixture will take place on any particular alternative day.
The original schedule still lists Celtic against Hibernian for December 13, but the confirmed cup-final participation of the Edinburgh club means that arrangement now needs to be addressed.
The league organisers will have to find a solution that accommodates the clubs while avoiding an unreasonable fixture turnaround.
Another demanding December awaits Martin O’Neill
The scheduling problem arrives during a period when Celtic are already dealing with considerable pressure on the pitch.
O’Neill’s team have endured an inconsistent run of performances, and their 2-0 defeat to Falkirk has only intensified scrutiny of the manager and his players.
The last thing Celtic need is further uncertainty surrounding an already congested fixture list.
Their Europa League commitments, domestic league matches and the possibility of rearranged fixtures could create a demanding sequence of games as the season approaches its halfway point.
For supporters, the immediate concern is simpler: they want to know when Celtic will actually play Hibernian.
Hibs’ 2-1 victory over Hearts has removed the possibility of a straightforward Monday rearrangement, leaving the SPFL with a more complicated problem to solve.
Rangers and Hibernian will now turn their attention towards the December 13 final at Hampden, while Celtic await confirmation of when their postponed league meeting with the Edinburgh side will take place.
Until an official announcement is made, supporters will be left waiting for clarity over a fixture that has suddenly become a major scheduling headache.
Nafisa
