For the first time in two years, there will be Rangers fans present at Celtic Park in the Old Firm derby between the two Glasgow rivals in mid-March.
Travelling supporters have been prohibited from attending the biggest fixture in Scottish football for the last couple of seasons.
But, at long last, the days of away teams scoring against a pindrop background at either Ibrox or Celtic Park are over.
Rangers released a statement via their official website on Friday morning, opening the door for a blue wave to descend upon the green side of Glasgow when the two old rivals go head-to-head once again two weeks from now.
- READ MORE: Who Has The Most Old Firm Wins of All-Time?
Rangers fans will be back at Celtic Park next month
“Rangers supporters will be able to attend our match with Celtic on March 16, with the two clubs agreeing for a reciprocal percentage of tickets to be allocated to away fans,” the statement reads.
“Approximately four per-cent of saleable capacity at both stadia will be given to the visiting club, with everyone at Rangers looking forward to having the backing of our supporters in the East End of Glasgow in just over a fortnight’s time.
“The arrangement will then be repeated for the Old Firm derby at Ibrox following the split. Specific ticketing information will be communicated to eligible supporters in due course.”
Rangers hammered Celtic 3-0 on home soil during their first outing of 2025. That was the long-awaited first Old Firm derby victory of the Philippe Clement tenure. And, as it turned out, the last as well.
Interim boss Barry Ferguson takes Rangers to the champions looking to end his side’s five-year wait for a victory at Parkhead.
Connor Goldson netted an unlikely brace back in 2020 as Steven Gerrard’s team cruised to a 2-0 victory over their arch rivals. There was not a single fan in attendance that day, however, due to the COVID-19 protocols which also robbed Celtic of four first-team players.
News that Rangers and Celtic will both be permitted to bring supporters along from now onwards, then, should be a major boost not only for either club but also for Scottish football as a spectacle.
Ally McCoist urged an Old Firm solution as far back as 2018
Rangers were ‘dismayed’ back in August when Celtic confirmed that there would be no tickets for away fans.
To provide an indication as to how long this tired old saga had rumbled on, Ally McCoist urged Rangers and Celtic to thrash out a solution as far back as a previous Old Firm clash in 2018.
There were only 800 Rangers fans in attendance that day after their green-and-white clad neighbours opted to dramatically reduce their allocation.
“They said the atmosphere was actually very, very good in general. But it just wasn’t the same without the [away] support there,” the former Rangers striker said seven years ago.
“I just hope the two clubs can get their heads together. because there’s too many people from the opposite side who want to travel away from home.
“I think at the vast majority of football clubs, the real local boys are the boys that travel and go on the road and support their team away from home.
“And I think it’s just a shame that the real Rangers supporters, and indeed the Celtic supporters, won’t get the opportunity to do that in the Old Firm games.”
Seven years on, a breakthrough has finally been reached at last.
