GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – APRIL 25: Celtic’s Kieran Tierney (C) and teammates applaud fans at full time during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park, on April 25, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
April 26, 2026
David Edgar has hit out at the latest developments surrounding the upcoming Old Firm clash, making it clear he is far from impressed with the situation.
The row centres on Celtic’s decision not to admit members of the Union Bears for next month’s meeting at Parkhead. The club pointed to the scenes at Ibrox after the Scottish Cup quarter final, where Celtic came through on penalties, as the reason behind the move.
Edgar, who hosts the Heart and Hand podcast, has taken a strong stance. In his view, limiting away support in this way hands Celtic an advantage and undermines the spirit of the fixture.
Rangers, after all, allowed away fans at their home games earlier in the season, and Edgar believes that standard should be maintained without conditions attached to which groups can attend. He argues that using the events in March as justification does not sit right.
The decision has clearly struck a nerve among Rangers supporters, and Edgar did not hold back in his response. He questioned how the move aligns with Celtic’s stated values.
He wrote on X: “This is blatant cheating to gain an advantage. What happened to their much-prized ‘sporting integrity’?
“The Compliance Officer has to intervene here.”
What have Rangers and the SPFL said in response?
Rangers have rejected Celtic’s proposal outright and taken the matter to the SPFL. While condemning the incidents from 8 March, the club insist they have been working to address safety concerns ahead of the fixture.
They also warned that removing away fans from such a high profile match could set an unwanted precedent for the league moving forward.
In a statement on their official website, Rangers said: “Yesterday, Celtic FC informed us that they will not provide any tickets for the forthcoming game to our supporters unless we agree not to allocate tickets to members of the Union Bears.
“We have firmly rejected those conditions and have referred the matter to the SPFL Board.
“Rangers is fully committed to safety at football matches, and we have been clear in condemning the actions of certain individuals on 8 March. We have been attempting to work with Celtic to mitigate any security concerns for the upcoming match.
“At a crucial stage of the season, the removal of away supporters from one of the defining fixtures of the competition would introduce a clear and material sporting imbalance. It would also set a precedent with potentially significant consequences for the league in future seasons.”
With both sides unable to reach common ground, the SPFL has now stepped in. A sub committee will be appointed to review the situation and deliver a decision, effectively placing the outcome in the hands of a neutral party.
It leaves one of the biggest fixtures in Scottish football hanging in the balance, with no clear resolution just yet.
