HIBS have risked the wrath of Rangers by inviting their supporters to buy tickets for this month's match between the sides directly from the Easter Road club.
Hibs yesterday confirmed they will refuse to pay the Glasgow giants a 5 per cent levy for distributing tickets for away games. Rangers and Celtic have both introduced the charge this season, claiming it helps offset the cost of administering to thei
r large numbers of travelling supporters.
Hibs claim they were contacted by the Rangers FC Supporters' Association and have agreed to work with them to distribute tickets to their membership for the 28 September Clydesdale Bank Premier League fixture.
Hibs chief executive Scott Lindsay believes Rangers are wrong to demand a levy for the service. He said: "The existing system has been in existence for some years and, until now, enjoyed the support of all clubs, namely that all clubs agree to co-operate and to sell tickets for their away supporters with no charge.
"Rangers FC have said they now want payment in return for this service, to recognise the value their large support brings to other clubs and to help defray their costs.
"We understand their view, but we oppose this on a point of principle. Should we then charge clubs with significantly smaller travelling supports than our own? Surely we should be looking to see how we can work together, maximise revenues for all clubs, and provide our customers – the supporters – with the best and most convenient service possible?"
Lindsay added: "We value away fans who come to Easter Road. Not only do they bring financial benefits, but a healthy away end lends to the atmosphere on match days and makes the game more enjoyable."
Of the other SPL teams, Aberdeen agreed to the levy for the 23 August match between the sides, but only after raising ticket prices for away supporters. Dundee United "reluctantly" agreed to pay the charge to Celtic for their 17 August clash at Tannadice after the Parkhead club allegedly threatened to refuse tickets.
Falkirk sold away tickets to Rangers fans themselves for the 9 August SPL opener rather than pay the charge, while Hearts have pledged to follow suit. The Scottish Premier League has already said it will not intervene in the issue, claiming it is a matter for the clubs.
Meanwhile, Derek Riordan is on a mission to top the Hibernian goalscoring charts this season. The striker, who returned to the club on Monday after two miserable years at Celtic, has vowed to repay Paatelainen's faith in him by recapturing the form that made him a hero at Easter Road.
Riordan will wear a shirt sporting the number 01, as Colin Nish has already commandeered his favourite number 10 jersey. But the 25-year-old is determined to prove himself the club's real number 10 by outscoring his fellow forward this season.
"Whatever club I'm at, I'm always wanting to finish top goalscorer," Riordan said. "I cannot wait to start playing games again. I just want to go out there and score goals. I feel like a young boy again."
Riordan also revealed how he feels robbed of the last two years of his career after being frozen out of the first-team picture at Parkhead. He said: "I'm 25 now. It feels like I've lost a couple of years, but I'm raring to go."
Riordan claimed being snubbed time and again by Celtic manager Gordon Strachan left him feeling depressed.
"I think everybody gets frustrated if they're not playing football," said the returning Hibs striker. "It depresses you to be honest but you've just got to get on with it."
Playing the numbers game – from hero who wore zero to 618 FOLLOWING Derek Riordan's allocation of the '01' shirt at Hibs, we take a look at more of the world's most bizarre squad numbers.
0 – Worn by the late Aberdeen star Hicham Zerouali, after Dons fans realised the humour potential of his surname's first four letters. Zerouali sadly died in a car crash in 2004, prompting the club to 'retire' the number.
1 – Argentina midfielder, and later Spurs boss, Ossie Ardiles wore his country's No1 jersey at the 1982 World Cup. The reason being that squad numbers were allocated by alphabetical order – the only exception was Diego Maradona.
1+8 – Inter Milan striker Ivan Zamorano's shirt number from 1997 to 2000. In his first season, the Chilean wore No9, which was then given to new signing Ronaldo. Zamorano took '18', but inserted a plus sign between the digits.
9 – Worn by eccentric Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos, who started his career as a striker.
10 – Normally the preserve of the playmaker, but not so at Arsenal, who gave it to centre-back William Gallas.
69 – Worn by cheeky French left-back Bixente Lizarazu when he was at Bayern Munich, though Lizarazu claimed it was merely his lucky number. It is his year of birth, weight in kilogrammes and height (1.69m).
88 – Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon sported it at Parma, landing him in hot water. The number has fascist connotations, as did a slogan written on his T-shirt during one match.
90 – Plymouth Argyle registered former Labour Party leader Michael Foot as a player back in 2003 and handed him the No90 shirt, in honour of his 90th birthday. It made him the oldest registered player in British football history.
99 – Worn by Ronaldo at AC Milan, as Filippo Inzaghi had already taken the No9 jersey. Also used by Portugal goalkeeper Vitor Baia and numerous Serie A strikers, including Cristiano Lucarelli.
618 – Possibly the highest number ever worn by a footballer. Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni, who is famous for taking free-kicks and penalties, wore it to commemorate his record 618th appearance before reverting to his usual '01'.
The full article contains 974 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
