HEARTS owner Ann Budge has completely dismissed Celtic's complaints about Murrayfield not being a neutral venue for their semi-final against the Tynecastle club as nonsense.
Budge could not believe that Brendan Rodgers described the SPFL'S process which means his side playing in Edinburgh on Sunday, October 28 as 'unfair.'
She also could not understand Celtic's statement which claimed it was "irrational" and "discriminatory" not to hold a ballot to decide which semi-final would take place at the home of Scottish football.
In an interview with STV, Budge said: "We played four games there at the beginning of last season and Celtic, as we all know, have also played at Murrayfield, I think the same number of games, if not more.
"Our team has changed drastically, less than half the team have experience of playing at Murrayfield and they won't necessarily be in the side when we do play.
"So I think to suggest it's not a neutral venue is quite frankly a nonsense.
"If you look at the other side of it, if we then assume Hampden therefore would be a neutral venue, I think I have a very strong argument that says Celtic have been there a heck of a lot more than Hearts have unfortunately.
"Honestly I think it's a fatuous argument, I don't think it holds water."
Celtic asked for a draw to be made instead of the SPFL telling the clubs where they would play - something Budge refused to go along with.
She said: "I didn't accept it. The SPFL board asked for representation from all four clubs, giving their view on it.
"I genuinely believe that as Hearts were drawn out first, followed by Celtic, surely that would normally mean we were the team to play on the Saturday.
"I was told what would override that would be any police and broadcast considerations. It has since been clarified that there is no rule that says that happens.
"I personally believe it's the popular assumption that is what happens, the first two teams play on the Saturday and the second two on the Sunday.
"Clearly, in this instance, it is the Saturday game which had to be reorganised. I contended that we had already had the draw and didn't need a second one."
It was clear Budge was not impressed by the SPFL's handling of the affair.
She said: "We got off to a very bad start. I think it could have been handled differently from the outset. That initial assumption, that it couldn't be done any other way, is the one I challenged.
"The potential risks to show Scottish football in a bad light were huge.
"I think it was essential we looked at every option, which included being released from that contract clause.
"We started with a poor assumption but once the issues were discussed everybody pulled out all the stops to find a solution."
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