Exclusive: Celtic Pull Plug on September Glasgow Derby Allocation

Celtic have put a hold on the newly agreed away fan allocation for the first two derby matches of the season, citing concerns over Rangers’ failure to implement crucial safety measures at Ibrox CeltsAreHere can reveal.

After years of diminished away support at these fiercely contested fixtures, which eventually dwindled to none due to safety concerns for Travelling Celtic fans, a new arrangement was struck over the summer. The deal would have seen 2,500 away supporters allowed at each match, starting with the clash at Celtic Park in early September. The agreement included a condition that both clubs would install safety nets around the away sections to prevent any potential crowd trouble.

However, the implementation of these safety measures has hit a stumbling block. Rangers, who have been dealing with significant issues to their stadium during the summer, have yet to begin the necessary steps to erect the required netting at Ibrox. This installation requires planning and approval from Glasgow City Council and takes considerable time to implement, but there’s been no indication that Rangers have moved forward with the process at present.

With the first derby of the season just weeks away, Celtic have decided to put the agreed allocation on hold. Celtic have everything in place for the visit of away fans and did their work over the summer, getting planning permission in plenty of time. But it means the September match at Celtic Park will proceed without the presence of Rangers fans, resulting in a stadium filled exclusively with Celtic supporters.

The decision to put a hold on the agreement reflects Celtic’s concerns for fan safety, as the safety nets were a critical part of the deal. Without these measures guaranteed to be in place at Ibrox, Celtic are unwilling to proceed, and rightly so. It’s worth noting it has been Celtic pushing for a better and more robust away allocation for both sets of supporters since the historic allocation was taken off the table by Rangers. There will be nobody inside Celtic Park happy about the situation, but they couldn’t hand out tickets to Rangers without guarantees.

As it stands, both clubs will need to revisit the arrangement after the new year derby and see where things are at. The onus now lies with Rangers to address these issues if the away allocations are to be reinstated for later fixtures in the season.