Celtic are pushing for a return to bumper away crowds in Old Firm clashes for next season – after it was revealed rival punters will be banned from Celtic Park and Ibrox for the remaining two league encounters.
Record Sport understands Parkhead chiefs are adopting an all or nothing stance as they want 7000 away fans back in both grounds from next season – but there is NO CHANCE Rangers bosses will allow the Broomloan Stand to be handed back to the Hoops. Both clubs have voiced concerns about the safety of supporters in the limited numbers situation with around 800 currently allowed into either stadium.
There have been numerous flashpoints on both sides of the city in clashes since the doors were reopened after covid and the smaller allocations have proved tougher to police than the previous wider access. Record Sport understands Celtic informed Gers they would not be taking up their allowance for the post split encounter later this season and the Light Blues did likewise with their tickets earmarked for the Celtic Park Premiership encounter on April 5.
The pair also clash in the Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden – where there will be an equal split. But the clubs will have no away backing in the Premiership matches and more negotiations are needed to avoid a similar shut out next term.
There was never any chance of full allocations being restored at any point this season as both had sold season tickets in the sections traditionally handed over. Plans are being drawn up for next season’s sales but unless an agreement can be reached, there is a strong prospect of home only clashes for the foreseeable future.
Old Firm legends Barry Ferguson and Chris Sutton have united and called for an end to the ticket war – as both want a return to the atmosphere that has made the derby a world wide must see. Record Sport columnist Sutton said: “The lack of away fans damages the game as a spectacle. Talk of safety concerns or whatever, is a sad state of affairs.
"The derby is built on the tribal atmosphere. It’s not been the same since Rangers got fed up seeing Celtic fans celebrating in the Broomloan Stand and cut the allocation, leading to the tit-for-tat stuff we are getting now.
“It’s all just so petty. The big away sections are what made these fixtures and the question I’d ask is what are they trying to achieve in terms of selling the game.
“We’re trying to promote Scottish football beyond these borders. We should be showcasing the biggest fixture on the calendar. Instead we are diminishing and devaluing it.
“We know Rangers are the ones who instigated this and I just hope they see sense and try to fix it.”
Former Rangers rival Ferguson also wants to turn back the clock and he admitted the reduced numbers of recent seasons has proved to be more hassle than it’s worth.
He said: “There was virtually no away support as it was with only 800 allowed in at both grounds so I don’t think this will make much of a difference. I just don’t like it. The atmosphere has totally changed to the games I grew up watching.
“I think if you ask any of the players who played in the old days when we’d go to Parkhead with 8000 supporters, that for me just made the whole occasion special. So when they slashed it back for me it took something away from the fixture.
“I just think the two clubs really now need to sit down and find a way that allows us to get to the way it was before. It’s time we went back to proper Old Firm games with proper away supports.
“I’d be astonished if there wasn’t 100 percent agreement with my viewpoint from other guys who have played in this fixture, no matter which side they come from. Running out at Ibrox when we had three sides and Celtic had the Broomloan, I loved that.
“The same when you walked out at Celtic Park with those 8,000 Rangers fans in that big corner, it really made for a fantastic atmosphere. It’s time to stop the nonsense and get back to the way it was.”
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