The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has announced a complete ban on away fans attending Old Firm derbies between Celtic and Rangers for the remainder of the current season. The decision follows recent incidents that have led to increased scrutiny of safety measures at matches between the Glasgow rivals.
The ban comes into effect immediately, impacting the upcoming fixtures scheduled for September. The first of these is a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie at Ibrox on September 13, followed by a league match at Celtic Park seven days later. This move aims to allow stakeholders time to address recommendations from an independent review into crowd behavior.
Last season's Scottish Cup quarter-final clash between Celtic and Rangers was marred by supporters from both sides entering the pitch after a penalty shootout. The Scottish FA subsequently sanctioned both clubs. In the wake of these events, Rangers had initially offered Celtic only 300 tickets for the forthcoming cup tie, a proposal that Celtic rejected.
Discussions involving league officials and representatives from both clubs culminated in the decision to implement the temporary ban. An SPFL statement indicated that this arrangement would allow for proper consideration of the independent review's findings and recommendations. It is also intended to provide greater certainty for fans and those involved in matchday operations, while avoiding repeated uncertainty regarding ticketing for individual games.
"All parties have committed to working constructively during this period, with safety and security remaining the priority," the SPFL statement read. "The position will remain subject to review should circumstances materially change during the season."
Prior to this season's ban, away fan allocations for the Old Firm fixture had already been reduced. In 2018, the number of away fans permitted was cut to fewer than 1,000. A subsequent agreement between the clubs had allowed for a 5% ticket allocation for league fixtures in 2025 and 2026, but this arrangement has now been suspended.
Rangers manager Derek McInnes expressed surprise at the decision, noting that he believed the matter was still under discussion. He acknowledged that opposition fans contribute to the derby atmosphere, but conceded that there were significant issues to consider following recent events.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill echoed this sentiment, stating that the ban felt almost inevitable given the contentious ticketing offer. He expressed sadness at the prospect of the fixture being played without away support, highlighting the atmosphere created by full stadiums and visiting fans in past encounters. O'Neill hopes that the clubs can eventually resolve the underlying problems that have escalated in recent seasons.