Rangers supporters have reacted furiously to reports that Celtic are looking to keep away fans out of the final Old Firm meeting of the season.
The two sides are due to meet at Celtic Park on May 10 in a fixture that could carry huge weight in the Scottish Premiership title race. With so much on the line, the possibility of one set of supporters being locked out has only added fuel to an already heated rivalry.
According to reports, the Ibrox hierarchy have been made aware of the situation, and the response from the Rangers side has been one of clear frustration. The club are now believed to be weighing up their next steps after learning of the proposed move, which follows the disorder that marred last month’s Scottish Cup quarter-final.
Time is not exactly on their side. With the match now just a few games away, any attempt to challenge the decision will need to move quickly if there is to be any change before kick-off.
Rangers Fans in Uproar as Celtic ‘Play the Victim Card’
The reaction among supporters has been just as intense. Many have pointed to the previous meeting at Ibrox, where Rangers opened up the entire Broomloan Road end, offering a far larger away allocation than has become the norm in recent years.
That match ended in ugly scenes, with both sets of supporters clashing on the pitch, and Celtic’s current stance appears to be aimed at avoiding a repeat of that situation.
Rangers had been expecting an allocation of around 2,200 tickets for the return fixture, but there are now real doubts over whether any will be made available.
Unsurprisingly, social media has been flooded with angry responses from the Rangers support, with plenty accusing their rivals of overreacting or hiding behind the events of the last meeting.
One fan wrote that Celtic have “no shame,” while referencing the damage caused in the Broomloan Road end during the previous derby. Another admitted they were “not shocked at all,” claiming their rivals always stoop to “unimaginable depths.”
Others were just as blunt. One described the situation as “unbelievable,” while another suggested Celtic had played “the victim card.”
@SirJohnofCalvin: “Knew we shouldn’t have given them anything at our end. Treacherous. We are so weak.”
@deanomac55: “What for? Let’s see what minerals the SPFL are made of now.”
@liamhannah1987: “Cowards the lot of them…”
