Rangers have requested the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) intervene in a ticket dispute with Celtic, after Celtic refused to allocate any tickets to away fans for the final Old Firm derby of the season unless Rangers ban the Union Bears ultras group.
The SPFL board will convene a sub-committee next week to decide the matter before the match on Sunday, 10 May.
Background to the Ticket Allocation Dispute
The dispute follows disorder at the Scottish Cup quarter-final on 8 March, when spectators from both clubs entered the pitch after Celtic won on penalties at Ibrox. A Scottish FA investigation, led by Mark Blackbourne, is ongoing.
Celtic have demanded the exclusion of a section of Rangers supporters they claim “identifiably engaged in serious violence and disorder”. Rangers have rejected these conditions and referred the matter to the SPFL board.
Rangers’ Stance: Uphold the Agreement
Rangers said in a statement that Celtic informed them they would not provide any tickets for the forthcoming game to their supporters unless they agree not to allocate tickets to members of the Union Bears.
Rangers stress they “have been clear in condemning the actions of certain individuals on 8 March” and on ensuring match safety. They also state they have been attempting to work with Celtic to mitigate any security concerns for the upcoming match.
Rangers argue that removing away supporters from a defining fixture would introduce a clear and material sporting imbalance at a crucial stage of the season. They also believe it would set a precedent with potentially significant consequences for the league in future seasons.
Rangers want the SPFL board to “uphold the integrity of the competition, enforce the rules and ensure that the agreement in place between both clubs is honoured”.
Celtic’s Position: Safety First
Celtic have responded by stressing they “are ready and willing to make the full allocation as normal available to Rangers FC, subject to a condition regarding distribution to a particular section”.
Celtic’s priority will always be the safety of those attending Celtic Park. Following a detailed risk assessment, the club has requested that Rangers do not distribute tickets to a section of supporters which very recently and identifiably engaged in serious violence and disorder.
The upcoming match is important in deciding who wins a three-pronged title race involving leaders Heart of Midlothian and the two Old Firm sides.
The game is an opportunity for Scottish football to demonstrate that it can respond constructively to recent events and be a showcase occasion to rebuild confidence in how matches of this nature are managed.