Rangers have been left furious over the news that Glasgow City Council have awarded Celtic a greater capacity for a pre-season friendly on the same as the Ibrox club play.
The Gers are set to welcome 8500 fans to the famous ground this weekend for the visit of Premier League Brighton with 12750 supporters allowed in for the visit of Real Madrid.
However, Celtic would then announce that 18500 supporters will be allowed into their pre-season friendly with West Ham – which takes place just over two hours before the Gers host Brighton.
It’s a sizeable discrepancy which will see Celtic Park filled to 30% capacity whilst Ibrox will sit at just 17%.
According to the Daily Record, this decision has not gone down well with the Ibrox hierarchy who’re spitting feathers over the move which they claim “doesn’t make sense”.
Whilst there have been run-ins with the Record in the past, it’s also worth noting that this report was written by Andy Newport, a journalist with whom the club are believed to have a good relationship.
Here’s what a “well-placed Ibrox source” allegedly told him.
“The board are not happy about this at all,” said the source.
“They simply cannot understand why Glasgow City Council are only allowing them to welcome in 8,500 fans to Ibrox when there will be double that at Parkhead for a game kicking-off two hours before. It just doesn’t make sense.”
However, that report also includes a response from Glasgow City Council which claims that stadiums will be return to full capacity incrementally.
This suggests that the decision over Celtic’s increased capacity concerns the fact they hosted 9000 fans for their midweek Champions League qualifier with FC Midtjylland.
“We really want to see events, including matches, back as close to normal as the regulations allow. It’s good for the economy and frankly it’s just good for people to be able to do the things they love doing,” said the GCC spokesperson.
“But in doing it safely, we’re stepping up how many people can be in stadiums match by match, starting at 50% of safe capacity, then 75%, then 100%.
“We think this gives the right balance and allows Glasgow’s clubs to start moving towards normality.”
Rangers fans have had their own things to say about the decision which has left many of them frustrated they’re being held back from Ibrox.