NafisaRangers supporters have been handed fresh ammunition in the debate over Scottish Premiership fixture scheduling after a remarkable imbalance in the opening round of matches left Derek McInnes facing a far tougher away schedule against top-six opposition than Celtic.
The contrasting records have raised questions about the competitive impact of the fixture list, with Rangers having already travelled to every other current top-six side while Celtic have yet to make an away trip to any of those rivals at the same stage of the campaign.
For a Rangers side attempting to keep pace in the title race, the difference is significant. McInnes has had to prepare his players for some of the division’s most demanding away assignments early in the season, while Celtic have been able to approach those particular rivalries without the added challenge of playing on their opponents’ grounds.
That contrast is likely to intensify frustration among Rangers fans, especially with the clubs separated by just four points at the top of the table.
However, while the scheduling imbalance is striking, it does not by itself establish that Celtic received preferential treatment from the Scottish FA or the SPFL. The central question is whether the fixture sequence has created a meaningful competitive disadvantage for Rangers during the opening stages of the campaign.
Rangers’ Away Tests Have Come Early
Rangers’ opening schedule has included difficult trips to Celtic Park and Tynecastle, alongside away matches against Dundee United and Dundee. Those games have tested McInnes’ side in different ways, with the 2-2 draw at Dundee and the recent draw at Hearts demonstrating how challenging it can be to secure maximum points away from home.
The fixture list also shows Rangers travelling to Aberdeen earlier in the campaign, while further away assignments remain on the calendar.
That is an important distinction: a demanding run of away games can affect a title contender, but it does not automatically mean the schedule has been deliberately designed to disadvantage that club.
The wider fixture process is complicated by broadcasting requirements, policing, stadium availability and other scheduling constraints. The SPFL has acknowledged that building the Premiership calendar involves numerous competing considerations, while the league’s split format can create further imbalances later in the season.
Celtic’s Advantage Could Matter — But The Title Race Is Far From Settled
Celtic have enjoyed home advantage in several important fixtures during the opening weeks, including their emphatic 7-1 victory over Hearts. They also travelled to Easter Road to beat Hibernian 2-1, while Rangers’ visit to Tynecastle ended in a 2-2 draw.
Those results underline why the fixture debate has gained traction. Celtic have taken points from demanding matches, while Rangers have had to negotiate difficult away environments of their own.
Yet the standings remain tight. The SPFL table published after the latest round had Celtic on 27 points and Rangers on 26, with Hearts third on 19. That one-point gap makes every result important, but it also means the title race remains very much alive.
Rangers supporters can reasonably argue that their team’s schedule has presented significant early challenges. They can also question whether the fixture process consistently produces the fairest possible balance for title contenders.
What the available evidence does not establish, however, is that the SFA or SPFL deliberately favoured Celtic. That remains an allegation, not a proven explanation for the fixture sequence.
For McInnes, the immediate task is clear: keep Rangers collecting points while the schedule continues to test them. Celtic will face their own demanding away fixtures as the season progresses, and the significance of the early imbalance will become clearer as both clubs complete more of their league campaigns.
For now, the fixture list has given Rangers fans another reason to scrutinise the league’s scheduling process. Whether it ultimately proves decisive in the title race is a question that only the football itself can answer.
Nafisa
