Old Firm Ticket Dispute Escalates

A fresh dispute has erupted ahead of the upcoming Old Firm clash, with Rangers and Celtic at odds over away ticket allocations—prompting intervention from the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL).

Rangers revealed that Celtic informed them they would not provide tickets for visiting supporters unless the Ibrox club agreed to exclude members of the Union Bears from receiving allocations. The Glasgow side has firmly rejected those terms, confirming the matter has now been referred to the SPFL Board.

In a strongly worded statement, Rangers reiterated their commitment to safety while acknowledging previous incidents involving a minority of supporters during the March 8 fixture. However, the club stressed it had been working collaboratively with Celtic to address any concerns ahead of the return match.

Rangers warned that the absence of away fans in such a high-profile fixture could have significant consequences, both competitively and for the wider league. The club argued that removing visiting supporters at this stage of the season would create a “clear and material sporting imbalance” and risk setting a damaging precedent for future campaigns.

“This game is an opportunity for Scottish football to demonstrate that it can respond constructively to recent events,” the statement read, calling for a full stadium with both sets of fans present and for the match to be “decided on the pitch.”

Celtic, however, defended their position, stating they remain willing to provide the standard ticket allocation—on the condition that tickets are not distributed to a specific group of supporters. The club cited safety concerns following what it described as “serious violence and disorder” involving fans, staff, police and stewards during the most recent derby at Ibrox.

Following a detailed risk assessment, Celtic said its request was both reasonable and necessary to protect those attending Celtic Park. The club expressed “surprise and disappointment” at Rangers’ refusal to agree to the condition but indicated a willingness to continue discussions alongside the SPFL.

With tensions rising between the two rivals, the SPFL is now expected to play a निर्णent role in resolving the dispute, as both clubs push for a solution ahead of one of Scottish football’s most significant fixtures.

_{Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Winston Tjia, Pixabay / NewUnion_org}