Celtic have publicly complained after being allocated only 508 tickets for their trip to Tynecastle, and they say the figure is another cut of around 20% on their previous allowance. The club described the move as a surprise and said the reductions have continued across recent years. The visit to face Hearts is scheduled for Sunday, 29 November.
Celtic's complaint over Tynecastle
The strongest part of Celtic's response is the scale of the cut, not the match itself. In a statement reported by the BBC, the club said: "Clearly we are surprised and disappointed at this move, which represents another cut of around 20% on our previous allocation and follows significant reductions across recent years."
They added: "However, to be very clear, this is outwith our control and is the decision of the home club." That wording leaves the decision with Hearts, but Celtic's point is clear enough. They view this as part of a pattern, not a one-off adjustment.
The title race context
The row arrives with Celtic four points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership. That does not make the ticket issue any smaller, but it does place the complaint in the middle of a title race rather than some isolated gripe about away support.
Hearts sit 11 points behind Celtic and have dropped to fourth behind Falkirk after Sunday's defeat by the Bairns. The league positions do not change the complaint, though they do add some edge to a fixture that already carries weight for both clubs.
For Celtic, the immediate issue is simple: 508 tickets for Tynecastle, another 20% cut, and a dispute that will sit around the away end when the teams meet on 29 November.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
