In a harsh social media message, Hayes harshly criticized Rangers and demanded that no away supporters be let to watch the derby.
When Rangers turned away supporters from Sunday’s derby, Celtic women’s defender Caitlin Hayes attacked them for “letting women’s football down.”
All away tickets for their Sunday matchup against the top-of-the-table team were canceled, the Ibrox club said abruptly over the weekend, citing security concerns. During the two teams’ exciting 1-1 tie that was broadcast live on BBC Alba, no away fans were permitted in. Many believed that the SWPL’s championship match should have gone better.
That was certainly the view from the small number of Celtic punters who did manage to wangle access to the ground. TV cameras caught the players celebrating in front of a tiny band of visiting fans, who sported T-shirts with the message ‘football without fans is nothing.’ And now defender Hayes, who lifted her shirt at full-time to display one of those T-shirts underneath, has let rip with a scathing social media statement.
That was definitely the opinion held by the few Celtic fans who were able to gain entry to the field. TV cameras saw the players having fun in front of a small group of out-of-town supporters wearing T-shirts that read, “Football without fans is nothing.” Defensor Hayes has already loosened her tongue on social media after revealing one of those T-shirts beneath her top at full time.
She said: “Football without fans is nothing. Today women’s football in Scotland was let down. In a weekend where the Emirates was sold out and the growth of the game took an applause, the same could not be said 401 miles away.
“You simply can’t advertise a fixture based upon the opportunity to see representation on a stage, with the false intent to grow the game, when the same opportunity isn’t there for the opposition. Take colours away and you’re denying opportunity for young girls, in particular, to see what they can be, if they dream that dream. That dream isn’t exclusive to the colours you wear but inclusive to all, just like the foundations women’s football was built upon.
“You simply can’t advertise a fixture based upon the opportunity to see representation on a stage, with the false intent to grow the game, when the same opportunity isn’t there for the opposition. Take colours away and you’re denying opportunity for young girls, in particular, to see what they can be, if they dream that dream. That dream isn’t exclusive to the colours you wear but inclusive to all, just like the foundations women’s football was built upon.
“No matter what the situation, if you can’t accommodate, arrange, and finance appropriately, don’t host. The game’s reputation is harmed in this situation. a reputation that we are ALL constructing together.”
The lockout was assumed by some to be a continuation of the ongoing feud between the Celtic and Rangers men’s teams where no away fans are currently allowed in. The statement from the Ibrox club confirming the cancellation of tickets made no reference to this but Celtic bit back strongly at their rivals for failing to allow visiting fans to safely attend.
“Celtic Football Club was informed this morning that all away tickets for tomorrow’s women’s SWPL match at Ibrox Stadium will be canceled,” the statement stated. The decision to refuse entry to a large number of supporters is extremely disappointing, especially in light of the fact that the home club had several options to enable our supporters to attend in a stadium of this size safely and in light of the anticipated turnout. This is especially true at a time when a great deal of effort is being made to support and promote women’s football in Scotland.”
