As Rangers and Celtic reportedly enter discussions over away fans at this season’s remaining Old Firm derbies the Parkhead will have to cede to the Ibrox club if a resolution is to be met.
There has been no away supporters at either of the Scottish Premiership Old Firm clashes so far this season, with both games won by the Parkhead side.
The issue stems back to Rangers cutting the Old Firm allocation from around 8000 seats to 750 back in 2018 with the Parkhead side staunchly demanding a return to the previous arrangement.
But with season tickets sold in the Broomloan Stand this campaign, any suggestion of this happening – at least this season – has been killed stone dead.
Rangers Celtic ticket debacle deepens
The situation deepened further when Celtic refused to take the standard away allocation briefs offered by Rangers at Ibrox earlier in the season.
Whilst Celtic have cited safety concerns over their supporters, the Parkhead side have also been pushing for the reinstatement of the previous allocation.
Celtic then failed to provide enough evidence in the face of an SPFL ruling which stated Rangers were entitled to have their own supporters at Parkhead in December’s Old Firm clash.
This locked Rangers fans out of Celtic Park with reports now suggesting the Old Firm are back in dialogue regarding the final two fixtures of the season.
But with Rangers having already sold the briefs to their own supporters, if Celtic are in anyway serious about allowing fans back in then they will need to cede to the Ibrox side this campaign.
Course of Old Firm fixture permanently altered
Rangers meanwhile continue to explore options regarding their own stadium, with a small expansion planned as part of an increased singing section which will be stationed in the Copland next season.
As a result of the upgrade, Rangers will also be increasing wheelchair accessible spaces for in the Stadium.
One of the major issues associated with Celtic’s allocation was that the Ibrox club’s Ultras group were forced to be relocated when the Parkhead side came to town.
The Gers are also set to trial Livingston supporters being stationed in the Ibrox Club Deck later in the campaign, although this is not believed to be a solution to Celtic fans visiting.
It’s clear that a lack of away supporters has damaged the optics of the Old Firm derby and a solution is preferable for both Rangers and Celtic going forward.
However any notion that the previous arrangement could be reinstated appears to be misguided with Rangers forever altering the course of this fixture with their original decision to cut the allocation.
It’s not a decision which is unique to Rangers either, with Hibs kickstarting the trend by reducing the allocation of Rangers fans back in 2018 and other Premiership clubs soon following suit.
The days of Old Firm supports dominating away grounds in Scotland appear to be over.
As for the Old Firm derby, a modern, progressive solution that suits all parties is the only way we’ll see substantial numbers of fans return to the fixture.
