'Hate that idea' - Simon Jordan hits back at Celtic v Rangers claim ahead of Scottish Cup final

Simon Jordan hates the idea of the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers being played behind closed doors after it was posed to him live on air.

This comes after calls for all four teams in the semi-final stages – Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Motherwell – to be punished after pyrotechnics were brought into Hampden Park over the weekend.

Philippe Clement’s side faced a delay to kick-off after supporters of both the Gers and the Steelmen let off flairs, causing reduced vision down on the pitch [The Herald].

Reading a fan’s message aloud via talkSPORT [4 November, 11:45am], Jim White said: “Simple. Play the cup final behind closed doors; that’ll show them.”

In response, Jordan said: “Yeah and no. I hate the idea that you consequence the majority by indulging the minority. I hate that idea. It’s like saying to clubs that we’ll give you 100,000 fans because two fans said something racist or abusive.”

Celtic v Rangers Scottish Cup final to be played behind closed doors?

While the Hoops are seemingly also at fault for the reduced vision from smoke [Yahoo Sports], there is an argument to be made for both sides to be punished ahead of the League Cup final.

However, with only a minority of the fanbase choosing to disobey the rules, it would be hugely unfair to the rest of the supporters not to be allowed to witness their own team in a cup final.

Of course, there should be more thorough checks outside the stadium, and definitely serious punishments for those caught, but playing behind closed doors would help nobody.

Fans are essential for making the Old Firm derby what it is, and with the form that Philippe Clement’s side are currently in, an empty stadium would make their job even harder against Brenden Rodgers’ side.

With 41 days until the Scottish Cup final kicks off on 15 December, the Gers have plenty of time to prepare, though it remains to be seen if Clement will be in charge by that time.

In other Rangers news, David Edgar has been wowed by what one ace has done amid “deserved criticism”.

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