It just goes to show where Scottish football is at, given the fact that there is a debate around what allocation Celtic will get for their visit to Ibrox in March.
Celtic play Rangers twice away from home next month, including in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.
As soon as the Glasgow duo were pitted against each other, one of the first things everybody said and wondered was whether or not the Hoops would be granted their full allocation, as per the rules.
Back in 2018, Rangers threw their toys out of the pram during Celtic’s utter dominance, and restricted and stopped the usual thousands and thousands of away fans attending the derby.
Celtic followed suit, and since then, while away fans have returned to the stands, it still isn’t what it used to be, and there is the suggestion that the full allocation won’t be provided at Ibrox, and Frank McAvennie isn’t happy about it.
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Frank McAvennie says Rangers can’t deny Celtic a full allocation at Ibrox
Police Scotland have stated that safety shouldn’t be an issue, so Rangers can’t use that as an excuse.
The game itself, and it has now been confirmed, will take place on Sunday, March 8 at 13:00 GMT. But nothing yet on how many away fans will be allowed in.
Speaking on his Let Me Be Frank Podcast, McAvennie stated that Rangers simply ‘can’t’ deny the champions of Scotland with a full allocation.
Of course, McAvennie would have played during a period when the stands during Glasgow derbies were full of thousands and thousands of supporters.
But that passion, fire and colour is now missing, and it clearly needs to be brought back. Starting with this quarter-final tie.
Simon Houston: “What about the allocation issue? Celtic, we are led to believe, can claim pretty much an entire end. Back to the old days of the Broomloan stand being full of Celtic supporters.
“Whether that will happen.”
Frank McAvennie: “They have to.”
Houston: “Well, it should. It should. But I don’t think it’s as straightforward as that. Rangers. The police, and safety issues and all of that.”
McAvennie: “No, Rangers can’t say.”
Houston: “We will see.”
McAvennie: “They will get the one stand. I would think they would get the one stand.”
Houston: “ I don’t think it’s cut and dried, the point I am making.”
McAvennie: “You can’t do it unless it’s Scottish football. You can’t. We went there because Hampden was getting fixed, and it was the semi-final. The toss of the coin, and it was half and half. They can’t argue with it.”
Houston: “But Rangers are at home. It’s a home draw, so it’s never going to be half and half.”
McAvennie: “Isn’t the minimum 20%? So, that’s a stand. 8,000, which will be enough noise coming from Celtic to make a difference.”
Houston: “Let’s say it’s 8,000 fans. There will be a few squabbles about who gets those. The whole boycott issue as well.
“I read online, ‘if you are one of the fans who did the boycott, and you didn’t go to the game, then you shouldn’t be getting a ticket for Ibrox.’ So, that will cause a bit of tension.”
McAvennie: “It will cause a bit of friction. I just feel for the players. The stadium should be full. We aren’t in the 90s. These boys have won things. We should be supporting them.”
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