There will be no away supporters for Celtic and Rangers derbies in the Scottish Premiership or Premier Sports Cup this season, a decision reached after talks between the Glasgow clubs and the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). This temporary arrangement follows an independent review by the Scottish FA into crowd disturbances during last season's Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, which saw unrest and pitch invasions from both sets of fans.
Rangers are scheduled to host Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup on September 13, with the league encounter at Celtic Park taking place a week later. A proposal from Rangers for a reduced away allocation of 300 for the upcoming cup tie was rejected by Celtic.
The disorder on March 8 occurred after Celtic secured a penalty shootout victory, with approximately 8,000 visiting supporters in attendance. This figure was notably higher than in recent league Old Firm derbies, as ticketing rules differ for cup competitions.
Earlier last month, the Scottish FA mandated that both clubs must play their next Scottish Cup home matches behind closed doors. The SPFL stated that the current temporary measure will enable the clubs, the SPFL, Police Scotland, and other stakeholders to thoroughly consider the findings and recommendations of the independent review. It will also allow for necessary actions to be taken and provide ample time for the meticulous planning of future fixtures. Furthermore, it offers greater certainty for supporters and those involved in matchday operations, while preventing recurring uncertainty regarding ticketing for individual matches. All parties have committed to constructive collaboration during this period, with safety and security identified as the primary priorities.