SPFL’s Gutless Glasgow Derby Statement

The SPFL has finally confirmed the Glasgow Derby allocation situation, issuing a weak and evasive press release. The statement, which reads more like an attempt to gloss over the situation rather than address it, reveals that the September 2024 and January 2025 fixtures between Celtic and Rangers will take place with zero allocation for away supporters.

The league also mentioned that future allocations might return to around 5% of stadium capacity, but only if “all necessary requirements” are met—without ever specifying what those requirements are or why they haven’t been met yet.

What the SPFL’s bland announcement conveniently omits is the real reason for this disappointing outcome: Rangers’ failure to uphold their end of the agreement. Earlier this year, both clubs had agreed to reinstate a modest number of away fans for derby matches, provided that certain safety measures were implemented at both stadiums. Celtic did their part, investing hundreds of thousands of pounds into these improvements, ensuring that every necessary precaution was taken to protect supporters. Rangers, on the other hand, have done nothing.

Celtic’s decision to pull the away allocation was not a Petty move, as some uninformed commentators have claimed, but a necessary step to ensure the safety of their fans. With Rangers dragging their feet on the required safety upgrades, Celtic were left with no choice but to withdraw the offer, unwilling to place their supporters in potentially hazardous conditions at Ibrox.

It’s disappointing, to say the least, that the SPFL chose to ignore these critical details in their announcement. Instead of holding Rangers accountable for their inaction, the league has opted for a diplomatic, “let’s all get along” approach that does nothing to address the core issue. The absence of away fans in these historic fixtures will undoubtedly take away from the atmosphere, but that’s a consequence of one club’s intransigence, not Celtic’s desire to ensure fan safety.

The SPFL’s statement may claim that away fans are a “vital ingredient” to the passion of these matches, but their failure to address why they won’t be present in the first place speaks volumes.