Rangers are set to demand they get tickets for upcoming derbies at Celtic Park, despite there being no Celtic fans at the first fixture between the two clubs at Ibrox, The Daily Record reports.
It’s understood that Celtic have serious concerns about the safety and experience of supporters pushed into a small corner at Ibrox, were the club to take the paltry 700 briefs on offer from Rangers. The Bhoys have rejected tickets on that basis for the September 3rd clash. And they are correct to do so.
Regardless, Rangers now feel entitled to have fans at Celtic Park later in the season, The Daily Record say, and could complain to the SPFL if the Scottish champions do not come up with their own offer for that derby.
Celtic want a return to bigger allocations at both stadiums but are well within their right to refuse an offer to the away side if they in turn cannot guarantee the safety of Bhoys supporters at Ibrox.
Celtic know that they will have strong supporter backing on this matter. Everyone knows that it was Rangers who started all of this ticket nonsense in the first place, too.
If Rangers want their fans at Celtic Park, it’s really quite simple – give Celtic a safe, viable allocation at Ibrox and end this pettiness once and for all.
I think the days of Celtic fans getting the entire Broomloan end at Ibrox are long gone. But a move to European-style allocations at both grounds is surely the solution to all of this nonsense?
By preferring just 700 tickets, Rangers are taking away lots from this rivalry they seem so keen to preserve with their ‘Old Firm’ branding.
In the end, it might be for the best if the SPFL steps in and determines numbers in both grounds. Then everyone will know where they stand once and for all.
In other news, Celtic included on global list of most valuable football brands; only Scottish entry.
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