The Premier Sports Cup semi-final between Celtic and Aberdeen was a highly anticipated clash between the top two teams in the Premiership. With a spot in the final at stake, Brendan Rodgers was determined to secure the only piece of silverware that eluded him on his return to Celtic last season. On the other side, Jimmy Thelin was eyeing his first trophy as Aberdeen boss. The game was a hotly anticipated one, with fans eager to see which unbeaten record would come to an end.
However, the excitement was put on hold as the fans were made to wait for kick-off. A pyro display from the Celtic fans filled the national stadium with smoke, causing a delay in the scheduled 5.30pm start time. The lack of wind in Glasgow hindered the smoke from dispersing, leading to limited visibility on the field.
Premier Sports commentator Rory Hamilton noted that even the VAR room was unable to draw clear offside lines due to the smoke. Michael Stewart expressed his frustration, pointing out that the technology should have been able to work through the haze. Despite the delay, Kevin Clancy consulted with both Rodgers and Thelin on the touchline while the players continued their warm-ups.
After a 14-minute delay, the game was finally given the green light to proceed. Both teams, along with their managers, were eager to get the showdown underway and determine who would be advancing to the final at Hampden. The delay may have caused some frustration, but it only served to build up the anticipation for what promised to be an exhilarating match between two top-ranking teams.
