Mikael Lustig is hoping the Old Firm reopen the doors to away fans as the support shutout is taking the shine off one of the world’s biggest showdowns.
The former Hoops hero is on of the last Parkhead players to perform in front of a packed away end at Ibrox. Lustig scored in a 5-1 rout in Govan in 2017 and was involved in the final clash involving Celtic supporters in a full Broomloan Stand when Brendan Rodgers’ 10 men came back to win 3-2 in 2018. Ibrox chiefs slashed the away allocation the following season from 7500 to around 800 and with both clubs citing safety concerns around the reduced capacities, the plug has been pulled on any travelling punters for the remaining league clashes at both venues this season.
Lustig is hoping the sides can see sense – and he’s convinced the one sided support is damaging the fixture as a spectacle. The Swede – who won 16 major honours in his eight years at Parkhead – said: “It’s probably one of the best fixtures in the world. Well, it was. So, for me, I just hope the away fans can come back. Because it makes that fixture really, really good – and all the people around the world are talking about that fixture. I’m a bit scared that, if you take away the away fans, the fixture isn’t going to be as massive. I’m not sure whose decision it was – but hopefully we can have them back.”
Lustig was back in Glasgow at the weekend promoting his evening with Scott Brown at the Hydro on May 18 and he admitted he relished going to Ibrox when there was a bumper Celtic section. The recently retired defender – who also ended up with a policeman’s hat on when celebrating an Old Firm win – said: “My goal at Ibrox was obviously one of my favourite moments. To play there and beat them 5-1, and to score that goal, that was good.
“That wasn’t the policeman’s hat day, no! No, that game was at Celtic Park. It was pretty good too. You need that rivalry in football. It’s the same in Sweden, you need the big rivalries with the big atmosphere. So hopefully we can get it back.”
Record Sport revealed at the weekend Celtic are pushing for a return to full allocations for Old Firm clashes in both grounds. But Rangers are refusing to budge and it has becoming clear the reduced away capacity is becoming increasingly difficult to police.
There were numerous fan flashpoint at both venues in encounters since the return of punters from the covid shutout and Celts informed Gers they would not be taking any tickets for the post-split clash in Govan.
Light Blues chiefs opted for the same approach for the April 5 meeting in the East End and the sides are locked in a stalemate over plans for next term, with season tickets soon to be put up for sale.
Hoops boss Ange Postecogou admitted he’d rather have some fans in the away ends rather than none – but he’s leaving it out to the powerbrokers at both clubs to sort it out.
He said: “I am not across the detail. It is the club in those discussions. I think I have said in the past that I think having an allocation is good, albeit it is only 700. But at the same time I am certainly guided by people making these decisions and doing it in what they think is the best interests of the game. I guess from my perspective I am abiding by that. But we have a game at Hampden which will be 50/50.”
Meanwhile Postecoglou is facing an Old Firm sweat over Reo Hatate. The Hoops playmaker limped off in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Hibs with a hamstring strain and is now hoping for a positive result to a scan today.
The midfielder will rest up over the international break but early fears suggest he could be out for three weeks – running the risk of missing the April derby showdown.
Speaking after Saturday’s victory, Postecoglou said: “I’m not really sure, I haven't spoken to the medical team but I am hoping it's nothing too serious. “He just felt a twinge so having a couple of weeks without games hopefully helps in terms of his recovery.”
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