Hibs against switch to Murrayfield

HIBERNIAN and Hearts will meet each other in a Scottish Cup semi-final for the first time since 1901 after last night's draw brought together the two remaining SPL teams in the competition.

The winners will play a side from the lower leagues, with Gretna of the Second Division drawn to face the winners of the quarter-final replay between Dundee and Hamilton Academical, both of the First Division.

The matches are scheduled for the weekend of 1-2 April. Sky has first option and is likely to televise the all-Edinburgh affair on Sunday, 2 April. BBC Scotland is expected to screen the other match, probably with a Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

Venues have yet to be confirmed but the prospect of playing the Hibs-Hearts tie at Murrayfield is sure to become a hot topic for debate in the weeks ahead.

Hampden is the traditional venue for cup semis but with demand likely to outstrip supply, there is a case for playing at the 67,800-capacity national rugby stadium as Hampden holds 15,000 fewer.

Playing at Murrayfield would also avoid the logistical nightmare of transporting thousands of rival fans from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

Initial soundings from both clubs suggest Hearts are the keener to play at Murrayfield. Hibs, perhaps mindful of the fact Hearts used the rugby stadium for UEFA Cup games last season, envisage the match being at Hampden.

A spokesman for the Easter Road club said: "We expect the game to be played at the national [football] stadium like all recent semi-finals.

"[The prospect of Murrayfield] has not crossed our radar. I think Hearts said recently they'd be quite comfortable to see such a match played at Hampden and we feel the same. We've taken 30,000 to 35,000 through to Hampden for big games previously and we expect to take a big support through again."

Hearts will meet later this week to discuss potential venues. "We've got a meeting this week to talk about the semi and we'll look at every aspect, including ticketing," said a spokesman for the Tynecastle club.

"We're aware that some of the fans would like the game played at Murrayfield but we have to meet internally before we even raise the issue of Murrayfield. There are other aspects to consider. There could be a significant cost to both clubs in going to Murrayfield."

The Scottish Rugby Union is aware of the draw and in keeping with the recent push to make Murrayfield more available to other sports and music events, the union would undoubtedly be open to an approach from the SFA. No spokesperson would comment, however.

Supporters' groups are split over the venue. Frank Dougan, treasurer of the Hibernian Supporters Association, said: "I think the game should be played at Hampden. Players aspire to playing there because it's the national stadium and it's where the fans want to go.

"If it's played at Hampden nobody can say Hearts have any sort of advantage, having played at Murrayfield last season."

John Borthwick, secretary of the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs, disagrees. "Given the fact it's two Edinburgh teams in the semi I'd advocate that the game be played at Murrayfield," he said.

"I don't see the point in 40,000-plus Hearts and Hibs fans travelling on the M8 through to Glasgow. Hopefully the SFA will apply common sense and play the game at Murrayfield. But the SFA being the SFA, I suspect they probably won't."

Hibs, seeking their first Scottish Cup win since 1902, will be looking for better luck than when they last played Hearts in the semi. In 1901 Hearts won a replay 2-1 after a 1-1 draw and went on to lift the trophy after beating Celtic 4-3 in the final.

Taken from the Scotsman