“Really poor” attendances at both Women’s Scottish Cup semi-finals do not mean they should be played away from Hampden Park, according to Behind the Goals hosts Leanne Crichton and Rachel Corsi.
Rangers beat Celtic 2-0 in front of fewer than 3,000 fans, while Hearts’ 3-0 victory over Spartans was watched by fewer than 1,000 at the National Stadium.
“Right now, I’m probably frustrated with these crowds,” Crichton said. “I would be interested to know how the clubs felt in terms of the environment and what their expectations were.
“I saw it on TV as a spectacle and it felt like we had missed that opportunity again.”
Last season, more than 100,000 fans attended home women’s football for the first time, with a record 15,882 watching Celtic’s final day title decider against Hearts at Celtic Park.
Scotland captain Corsi was particularly frustrated by the Old Firm crowd on Saturday.
“Two teams from Glasgow, in a city where football is a big part of the week,” he said.
“I don’t know what the plan is. I’m assuming they want more people to come to the games. But I don’t even know how committed they are to it.
“Maybe the clubs are happy that it’s going up over time but it’s sad for me. To see less than 3,000 in a game like this, I don’t think that’s where the game is. It’s the game. Reflects support.
“That number is really poor and there will probably be some people saying ‘why is it even at Hampden?'”
Credit : www.bbc.com
