Celtic and Rangers agree to exclude away fans from Old Firm matches this season

The short version

• Celtic and Rangers agreed with the SPFL that no away fans will attend Old Firm derbies in the Scottish Premiership and Premier Sports Cup this season.
• The decision follows unrest and pitch incursions during the March Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, which featured approximately 8,000 away fans.
• The measure takes effect ahead of a September 13 cup tie at Ibrox and a league fixture at Celtic Park a week later.
• Officials and Police Scotland plan to use the season-long arrangement to review security recommendations and determine future ticketing policies.

Key facts

• The Scottish Professional Football League, Celtic, and Rangers agreed to exclude visiting supporters from all Scottish Premiership and Premier Sports Cup derbies during the current season.[BBC News]
• The decision was prompted by an independent review into crowd disorder and pitch incursions that occurred at Ibrox during an 8 March Scottish Cup quarter-final.[BBC News]
• Celtic rejected a proposal by Rangers to provide a reduced away allocation of 300 tickets for the Premier Sports Cup tie on 13 September.[BBC News]
• The Scottish FA previously sanctioned both clubs by mandating that their next Scottish Cup home fixtures be played behind closed doors.[BBC News]
• Since away allocations were cut in 2018, ticket numbers for visiting supporters at Ibrox and Celtic Park have fluctuated between roughly 800 and zero.[BBC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• No away fans for Old Firm games this season after agreement reachedBBC News - Top Stories