Martin O'Neill believes Celtic should decline the 300 tickets allocated to their supporters for the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox. Rangers announced the significant reduction in away tickets following an SFA report into crowd disturbances during last season's Scottish Cup tie. Both Old Firm clubs have also been ordered to play their next home games in the competition behind closed doors and pay a £100,000 fine.
Rangers cited the need to prevent further pitch invasions as the reason for slashing the away allocation. O'Neill, who witnessed his side play in front of 8,000 away fans for a cup game at Ibrox in March, contends that such small numbers diminish the Glasgow derby. He suggested that if the allocation is so small, it would be preferable to have no travelling fans at all.
"My view, taking off the Celtic manager's hat, and just looking at it from a viewpoint, is that it's one of the great fixtures," O'Neill stated. He emphasized that the atmosphere is best when away fans have a reasonable allocation. He recalled a past experience where a Rangers goal at Ibrox was met with silence, which he believes detracts from the game's dynamism.
O'Neill's comments come after Celtic's 2-1 victory over Falkirk in a league match. Two first-half goals from Camilo Duran and an own goal secured the points. O'Neill expressed gratitude to the supporters for their backing despite a recent Champions League qualifying exit. Midfielder Luke McCowan also received applause when entering as a second-half substitute, a gesture O'Neill found positive after recent criticism.
Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers echoed O'Neill's sentiment, stating that fan support, even upon arrival at the stadium, provides a significant boost to the players. He acknowledged a poor 45-minute period earlier in the season but stressed the team's overall performance and the importance of maintaining focus.
Celtic faces injury concerns ahead of upcoming matches. Captain Callum McGregor was absent against Falkirk due to illness. O'Neill also noted that Kasper Hogh is managing an adductor injury, and Kieran Tierney may have picked up a similar issue. Callum Osmand was seen leaving the stadium in a protective boot. Reo Hatate was unavailable for the Falkirk match, having ruled himself out due to a training strain, with his future at the club uncertain pending the transfer window's closure.
Falkirk manager John McGlynn expressed disappointment with conceding two early goals, describing them as cheaply given away. Despite the outcome, he saw positive aspects in his team's performance, particularly in the second half.