SCOTTISH football fans say that matches should be played throughout the country, following the SFA’s latest move in reviewing its future at Hampden stadium.
The sport’s governing body has contacted clubs and other stakeholders to canvass their views on moving internationals and cup finals away from Hampden when the current lease expires after Euro 2020.
The letter from the SFA is part of an ongoing review on whether to remain at the national stadium or take matches to other large venues in future, such as Murrayfield, Celtic Park or Ibrox.
Hampden was redeveloped in 1999, although the work went massively over budget by £8 million to cost £59 million in total.
However, it has recently been criticised for being a poor venue for international football, with questions raised about its future when the SFA’s lease with Queen’s Park, which owns the stadium, runs out in three years’ time.
Michael Clark, chairman of Granite City Scots, a Tartan Army club, said that he did not think Hampden was “fit for purpose” anymore.
He said the matter had been discussed at a recent meeting, saying: “Obviously we need somewhere for the bigger games, like Murrayfield or Ibrox or Parkhead, but for the smaller fixtures, everyone was kind of in agreement that Hampden wasn’t fit for purpose.
“To be honest getting down to Glasgow from Aberdeen is a complete nightmare during the week. From an Aberdeen perspective, we’re totally for it.”
Historically, the ‘old lady of Mount Florida’ has been known as the home of Scottish football and has been used, in one form or another, since 1903.
It has hosted many games including Scotland’s 3-1 win over England in 1937 and the Real Madrid 7-3 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960.
Tonight, it will host the national team when they meet Malta for the World Cup qualifiers, but the stadium is expected to be at only half capacity, with around 25,000 fans.
Countries such as Spain, Brazil, Italy and Germany do not have a dedicated national stadium and their matches move around different venues.
Mr Clark added: “I think we as a nation could easily do that, to be honest. And a lot of fans do come from the north, so locally it would probably suit them as well.”
John Daly, vice-chairman the West of Scotland Tartan Army, said that he did not agree that Hampden was no longer fit for purpose. But he said he was still “open-minded” about moving future matches throughout Scotland.
He said that fans groups such as the Tartan Army should be considered in future talks on the matter.
Speaking in a personal capacity, he said: “I think Hampden is still a fairly decent stadium. It’s not state-of-the-art, but it’s okay.
“I think it’s quite right though that the SFA should go out and consult with all the stakeholders and included in this are the supporters.
“I’m not against moving the games about the country in principle. I’d still like Hampden to be available to the Scottish FA for some of the prestige games, the games that attract the greater interest.
“If the game is always in Hampden people have always got to travel that distance. Perhaps it’s time we gave some of the guys who travel a lot some payback.”
“I understand too though the people who say Hampden is the spiritual home for Scottish football, but times move on.”
The SFA was approached for a comment.
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