Rangers argued that this decision was irrational and that they had won an SPFL Board Sub-Committee argument against it. But neither did they try to make an argument for why the allocation they had been proposing was considered appropriate.
In order to demonstrate their dedication to the safety of away fans, Celtic has made it clear that they would not allow Rangers supporters to attend the derby at Parkhead unless significant safety upgrades have been implemented at Ibrox Stadium. This choice emphasizes the continued worries about the safety of away supporters during these crucial games.
Back in September, CeltsAreHere was informed by sources at Celtic Park that there had reportedly been discussions about adding safety nets in the away section at Ibrox, suggesting an acknowledgement of the safety issues that exist today. The Glasgow derbies’ customary intensity and enthusiasm are noticeably diminished when away fans are absent from such important games.
The dispute began when Celtic fans’ allotment of tickets at Ibrox was significantly reduced, preventing a sizable portion of The Bhoys’ fan base from attending the derby. Restoring a more classic derby atmosphere with a large number of away fans appears to depend on both parties working to improve crowd safety.
Although the committee supported their position opposing Celtic’s ticket policy, Celtic is steadfast in their choice. In their statement, they emphasized how ready they were for the hearing and how pleased they were with the committee’s recognition of their concerns over matchday experience and safety.
Michael Nicholson, the chief executive of Celtic, engaged fully in the hearing; in contrast, James Bisgrove, the chief executive of Ibrox, was conspicuously missing, despite the noise he and his club are currently making. This discrepancy in participation emphasizes even more how seriously Celtic has taken this matter.
The media may attempt to portray this as a straightforward case of “tit-for-tat,” but this narrative seriously ignores the vital concern of supporter safety.
Celtic’s entire statement is as follows:
“Celtic’s stance on this problem has been very clear, given the recent major safety and matchday difficulties that our fans have encountered at fixtures at Ibrox and Celtic Park.
Celtic is happy to have the chance to try to find a solution for these significant problems, and the Club was well-prepared for the hearing.
We appreciate that the subcommittee acknowledged the significance of safety and matchday experience concerns when deliberating over a fair distribution for both matches.
Celtic is standing by its decision to not provide any tickets for away fans for the December 30th game, even though it respects the current procedure.
From next year on, Celtic will keep a close eye on concerns related to matchday experience and safety as we work to responsibly address fair allocations at Celtic Park and Ibrox.
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