Celtic ultras call for Hearts boycott as Tynecastle allocation 'causes unnecessary division amongst fans'

Celtic ultras have called on the club to reject tickets for Tynecastle as they hit out at Hearts' allocation for visiting fans.

Brendan Rodgers' side romped to a 4-1 victory in Gorgie on Saturday night in front of a small army of around 650 Hoops diehards. But the tiny allocation forced thousands of regulars to watch the powderkeg fixture from home. Traditionally, both Celts and Rangers took up the entire Roseburn Stand but due to the rising demand for season tickets, the Jambos have cut allocations for all clubs except city rivals Hibs in recent years.

And Bhoys Celtic ultras claim that the scramble for tickets has "caused unnecessary division and friction amongst our support". In a statement released last night, the fan group have urged Hoops chiefs to think twice about accepting future tickets for Tynecastle.

READ MORE: Ally McCoist teases breaking Rangers news that is expected TODAY as he talks Philippe Clement

READ MORE: Celtic in subtle Rangers troll as eagle-eyed fans spot hidden social media dig

The statement read: "The ongoing away tickets saga for Hearts meant the vast majority of the group could not attend the match. The away allocation given to Celtic was 632, which had to be split between players, sponsors, corporates and everybody else meaning most regulars had to settle for watching the game on TV.

"For a long time now we've witnessed the hunt for tickets cause unnecessary division and friction amongst our support. It is our opinion that the club should refuse to accept such a small allocation until a sensible conversation that prioritises match-going supporters can be had on the issue.

"While Hearts (and every other club) are entitled to offer what they like, we again question the logic of allowing hundreds or even thousands of empty seats when there are as many fans willing to pay to fill them.

"There must be a way of achieving a more suitable arrangement for all parties, as well as the overall 'product'. In order to support Celtic in some capacity, we attended the B team's 4-0 victory over Albion Rovers in Airdrie on Friday night.

"Cheap tickets, Friday night football and relaxed security all contributed to a positive, fun and different experience to what we have become accustomed to. A very timely reminder of what football should be like."