Michael Beale has landed one final Rangers and Celtic Old Firm blow as Newcastle United overcome the manager’s Sunderland team in the Tyne and Wear Derby.
The former Ibrox boss is now in charge of the Black Cats and in a spirited FA Cup clash in England’s northeast, Premier League Newcastle overpowered their Championship rivals 3-0.
But some of Michael Beale’s comments after the match will stick out to both Rangers and Celtic fans as the manager appears to hit out amid the Old Firm allocation row.
The noise in the stadium today at times was absolutely fantastic,” said Beale. “You know, some derbies we don’t allow the fans in and stuff like that.
So I’ve had that both in Brazil and Scotland so to have the derby here today with some opponent’s fans in and the fans working off each other, I think derbies are what keep our football going and certainly a cup tie like today.”
Sunderland were defeated 3-0 by Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light, Daniel Ballard scoring an own goal before half-time and Alexander Isak netting a second half double.
Michael Beale criticises Old Firm after Sunderland v Newcastle
Taking aim at the ongoing spat between Rangers and Celtic north of the border, the incoming Sunderland manager praised the derby atmosphere at the Stadium of Light.
There were 6000 Newcastle United fans allowed into the ground for the clash at Sunderland; the first derby between the sides since the Mackem’s Premier League relegation in 2016.
Rangers and Celtic meanwhile are involved in a high-profile ticket spat where neither side have had away fans at the ground in this season’s Old Firm derby clashes.
Celtic refused the 700 or so briefs offered by Rangers in the first match of the season at Ibrox whilst our Old Firm rivals also refused to co-operate with an SPFL ruling to ensure there were no travelling fans in the recent 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park.
The Parkhead side are known to be unhappy with Rangers’ decision to slash the traditional 8000 opposition allocation for Old Firm clashes back in 2018.
This comes amid a shift in Scottish football where home sides from across the Scottish Premiership have been altering their traditional allocations for visiting Old Firm sides.
Rangers have since been clear that after selling the seats to season ticket holders there will be no return to the previous arrangement.
Fresh twist coming in Rangers Celtic Old Firm allocation spat?
The comments come at an interesting time for both the Old Firm Derby and for Rangers in terms of upgrades which are coming to Ibrox Stadium.
The club recently announced plans for an increased singing section at the Copland end of Ibrox Stadium, moving the Union Bears from the Broomloan stand next season.
The move – which came after consultation with fans and the club’s squad – will also include the construction of a new cantilever in the stand and an increase in wheelchair spaces at the stadium, something which in combination will increase the stadium’s capacity by 600 seats.
The Broomloan is the stand which was traditionally given to Celtic supporters when the old allocation arrangement was in place, giving rise to hopes a solution could be met.
That said, the bitter feud between the two clubs has also intensified in recent seasons, with Celtic refusing to recognise the Old Firm Derby which they – incorrectly – refer to as the Glasgow Derby.
Whilst Celtic fans and players continue to try and troll Rangers with this claim, the Glasgow Derby has always traditionally been the match between the Gers and Queen’s Park.
The entire thing certainly has had an impact on the Old Firm fixture with away teams going into these matches knowing full well they’ll be up against it.
Whilst Rangers lost the first Old Firm clash of the season at Ibrox 1-0 – with a goal controversially ruled out in the first half – it serves as the anomaly and not the rule and likely will going forward.
But with the relocation of the Rangers Ultras behind the goal there’s a growing feeling the situation could be subject to change next season.
Much to the dismay of Michael Beale however, we don’t expect there to be any away allocations at the next two Old Firm clashes with both Rangers and Celtic refusing to budge as things stand.
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