FORMER police chief Les Gray insists the SPFL’s decision to host two cup semi-finals at Hampden on the same day is likely to be such “an absolute nightmare” it had him checking whether it was an April Fool.

Gray, who believes the cost to the public purse could be as much as £1 million, has questioned whether Police Scotland have the ability to cope with back-to-back Betfred Cup semi-finals at the national stadium within hours of each other.

The ex-chairman of the Scottish Police Federation fears the unprecedented decision to stage both games on October 28 will spark organised violence involving hooligans from the four clubs, making Glasgow and the streets around Hampden a no-go area.

Dunfermline Press:
Les Gray

He said: “I have to say, when I heard about this I did two things. I checked the calendar; I thought I had lost track of time and it was the first of April, because it would have been a great April Fool’s headline.

“Social media was full of people who actually thought it was fake news.

“The second thing I did – and I can guarantee there would have been tens of thousands of people up and down the country doing it – was to check where I am on the 28th of October, because I don’t want to be anywhere near Glasgow or Hampden Park.

“My concerns are that logistically it’s going to be an absolute nightmare. I know Police Scotland have come out and said ‘we’ll cope’ but I really do wonder how they will cope.”