Rangers have been left furious after the SPFL declined to step in over the Old Firm ticket dispute — a decision that, in the eyes of many at Ibrox, tilts the balance at a crucial stage of the title race.
The flashpoint centres on Celtic’s demand that Rangers exclude the Union Bears ultras if they are to receive their usual away allocation for the Premiership clash on May 10. Rangers rejected that condition outright, setting up a stand-off between the clubs.
Celtic’s position stems from the fallout of the recent Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox. After the final whistle, chaotic scenes unfolded as Celtic supporters spilled onto the pitch to celebrate, prompting a response from sections of the Rangers support — including individuals linked to the Union Bears — who moved toward the Broomloan Stand. The incident led to multiple arrests, including one relating to an alleged assault on a Celtic member of staff and a player.
Against that backdrop, Celtic have argued that additional safeguards are required before allowing away supporters back into Celtic Park.
The two clubs had previously been operating under an arrangement to allocate around five per cent of tickets to visiting fans — roughly 2,500 seats — following years of disputes that had at one point seen away supporters excluded entirely.
But this latest disagreement has pushed that fragile agreement to breaking point.
Rangers took the matter to the SPFL, hoping the governing body would enforce the existing arrangement and ensure their supporters could attend the fixture without conditions. Instead, the league’s sub-committee opted not to intervene.
In doing so, they effectively backed Celtic’s right to set the terms.
The SPFL acknowledged that the situation was “extremely regrettable” but made it clear that responsibility for safety and security lies with the home club. With an independent SFA review into the Ibrox incident still ongoing, the committee refused to override Celtic’s risk assessment.
A statement read: “The sub-committee then determined that, based on the evidence presented, it would not overrule a risk assessment carried out by the party legally responsible for the safety and security of the event, or interfere with the mitigation measures it considered to be necessary.
“Having reached that conclusion, the sub-committee confirmed that five per cent of the stadium was a reasonable allocation.”
That allocation, however, remains conditional — and until Rangers agree to those terms, their supporters will not be present.
The decision has sparked strong reactions, particularly given the timing. With the title race still alive and every point carrying weight, the absence of away fans at such a high-stakes fixture inevitably raises questions about competitive balance and atmosphere.
From Rangers’ perspective, the outcome feels like a significant setback — not just in terms of support inside the stadium, but in the broader context of a title challenge that leaves little room for error.
The SPFL, meanwhile, has pointed to a wider issue in how these disputes are handled. An official spokesperson confirmed that discussions have already taken place around changing the current rules, with a proposal set to be tabled that would extend the deadline for referring cases to the league from 14 days to 35 days before a fixture.
That change, if approved, would allow for more detailed analysis in situations like this moving forward.
For now, though, the focus remains on the upcoming derby — and a decision that has only added another layer of tension to an already explosive title race.