Celtic and Rangers have agreed to ban away supporters from all domestic Old Firm derbies this season following serious crowd disorder at Ibrox last March. The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) confirmed the temporary arrangement applies to both Scottish Premiership and Premier Sports Cup fixtures, with the first affected match scheduled for 13 September at Ibrox.
The decision stems from a Scottish Cup quarter-final that descended into chaos when Celtic fans invaded the pitch and clashed with stewards. Around 8,000 visiting supporters attended that fixture—the largest away allocation since 2018—exposing long-standing tensions over ticketing and safety at football's most intense Scottish rivalry. Both clubs subsequently received orders to play their next Scottish Cup home matches behind closed doors, a severe penalty that prompted the SPFL to seek a broader solution.
Why the Away Fan Ban?
The SPFL framed the ban as essential time to implement safety recommendations from an independent review. In an official statement, the governing body explained that the arrangement would "allow both clubs, together with the SPFL, Police Scotland and other relevant stakeholders, to give proper consideration to the findings and recommendations of the independent review, take forward the necessary actions and ensure sufficient time is available to plan future fixtures thoroughly."
For years, Old Firm fixtures have been plagued by logistical friction over away ticket allocations. League matches typically saw away allocations below 1,000, creating resentment among visiting fans. The SPFL acknowledged this, stating the ban would "provide greater certainty for supporters and those involved in matchday planning, while avoiding repeated uncertainty around ticketing arrangements for individual fixtures."
Manager Reactions
- Rangers manager Derek McInnes called the announcement "disappointing," claiming he was caught off guard as discussions were supposedly ongoing
- Celtic manager Martin O'Neill described the outcome as both "inevitable" and "really sad," emphasising that away fans are crucial to the fixture's atmosphere
O'Neill noted that "it's a great, great fixture when the ground is absolutely full. And I think the away fans make this," signalling hope that both clubs might eventually collaborate to resolve underlying safety issues. The fixture resumes with Rangers hosting Celtic on 13 September, followed by a Celtic Park meeting a week later—both played in an atmosphere devoid of visiting supporters for the first time in recent derby history. Whether this temporary measure paves the way for a permanent resolution or marks a troubling precedent for Scottish football remains to be seen.
