Scotland women's national team call out SFA over Hampden ticket allocation | OneFootball

The Scotland women's national team have criticised the SFA over the small number of tickets made available for their clash with Spain at Hampden Park.

Scotland host Spain in a World Cup qualifier on 12 April at the national team's stadium, but just eight sections of the ground have been made available to purchase tickets for. Six of the sections already have limited availability.

Members of the Scotland side, including Caroline Weir, Erin Cuthbert and Claire Emslie, have released a coordinated statement on social media calling on the SFA to do better.

"Following record attendances at recent women’s football matches, the SFA have only opened a fraction of a 50,000+ capacity Hampden Park," the statement reads.

"How are we expected to grow the game when only limited tickets are available for our supporters? Come on @ScotlandNT we can do better."

The SFA have since clarified the decision to release tickets in blocks, explaining that this is the protocol for all events at Hampden, and adding that all seats in the stadium will be available if the demand is there.

"The ticketing sales process used at Hampden Park is identical to most across Scottish football, with tickets sold in blocks, in line with ongoing demand," an SFA statement read. "This procedure is long-established for all events within our stadium – including the recent men’s UNICEF friendly against Poland - to optimise the atmosphere for each event.

"The Scottish FA was therefore surprised by the flurry of identical social media posts last night from members of the Scotland Women’s National Team under the misapprehension that insufficient tickets are being sold for next Tuesday’s vital FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier against Spain at the national stadium.

"Every seat in Hampden Park will be made available should the demand require it – and we urge football fans across the country to do their bit to support Pedro Martinez Losa and his team."

The current record attendance for a Scotland women's national team match was for their World Cup warm up friendly against Jamaica in 2019, which drew a crowd of 17,555.

The side's October World Cup qualifier against Hungary attracted a record crowd for a competitive fixture, with 6,445 in attendance for their 2-1 victory.

The Spanish national team have also become accustomed to turning out in front of bumper crowds, with many members of the side playing their club football at Barcelona.

The Catalan giants' recent Champions League quarter final victory over Real Madrid drew a crowd of 91,553 - a world record for an official women's football match. Their semi final against Wolfsburg has already sold out and could be on course for another record attendance.

Spain ran out 8-0 winners when the two sides met in November and currently top their qualifying group with five wins from five. Scotland sit second on 10 points.