Ally McCoist is the latest pundit to drag Celtic into Rangers’ embarrassing Glasgow derby ticket stance as he put the emphasis on both clubs to sort things out.
Celtic will get around 700 tickets for Ibrox next Sunday after fans of both clubs have been banned from away attendances in the previous 2 fixtures this season. However, the bigger picture shows that fans going to away games in this fixture have seen their attendances slashed since Rangers made the move in 2018. Celtic did the same to honour their own support, whilst making it clear they were open to talks on going back to normal [TalkSPORT].
Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson has already refused that notion in recent weeks [Sky Sports]. And despite the clear differing stances both clubs have on the issue, Celtic have continued to be roped in as a party worth blaming.
Pundits up and down the UK have tried to pin blame on both clubs in recent times [Football Scotland]. And now McCoist is the latest. As quoted by Football Scotland, the former Rangers striker said: “Of course it’s a step in the right direction, but the sooner the two clubs get together and iron it out properly, the better.
“Is it rocket science? I must be missing something. I don’t know what the capacity is of both clubs – when Rangers go to Celtic Park, give them eight percent. When Celtic go to Rangers, give them eight percent. I don’t know if it’s as easy as that, but there must be a way they can work it? Surely?
“For me, it’s still the greatest fixture in world football. I haven’t been to the Buenos Aires derby, that’s the one I really would love to go to. But I’ve been to enough to say that the passion and the atmosphere of the Old Firm game is better than everything I’ve experienced.”
Celtic literally can’t do anymore – pundits need to realise it
What more are Celtic honestly supposed to do here? We can’t force Rangers into reasonable thinking. Both clubs have made their stances clear on the issue. If you can still blame Celtic as partly responsible then you’re allowing your bias to show.
There is this argument that Celtic should be the bigger club. That we should start allowing the Rangers support to flood into Parkhead with their full allocation pre-2018. But what a slap in the face that would be to Celtic fans if this isn’t reciprocated at Ibrox.
Celtic made their move to defend their supporters. That should never be forgotten about or twisted. It was something they were forced into by Rangers’ petty and embarrassing decision to slash tickets in the first place.
Only outlets like ourselves are happy to call this out for what it was – Rangers taking the huff over constant doings at Ibrox against Celtic. And this idea that we’re partly to blame really needs to be put to bed. It shows just how timid the media can be in this country when it comes to blaming one club and not the other.
Until Rangers grow up and want to start coming to the table like adults, Celtic are doing the right thing standing by their supporters. The ball is firmly in their court.
Anyone who’s been keeping an eye on this situation over the last 4 years could’ve told you that. They’re to blame, not us.
In other news, Chris Sutton’s Celtic analysis is spot on; rivals should be fearful regardless of title outcome
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