NafisaThe next Old Firm showdown has barely had time to settle into the Scottish football calendar, yet another major controversy is already developing around the September meeting at Ibrox.
Rangers and Celtic were drawn against each other in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals, guaranteeing another explosive meeting between the Glasgow rivals.
But this time, the battle could begin long before either side steps onto the pitch.
The biggest question is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: how many Celtic supporters will actually be allowed inside Ibrox?
That question has taken on even greater significance because of what happened the last time the two clubs met in a cup competition.
The last cup meeting changed everything
When Celtic travelled to Ibrox for the Scottish Cup quarter-final in March, the occasion marked a major change from the heavily restricted away allocations that had become normal for Old Firm fixtures.
Around 7,500 Celtic supporters were packed into the Broomloan Stand under Scottish Cup regulations, creating one of the biggest away followings seen at an Old Firm match in years.
Celtic eventually progressed after a dramatic penalty shootout.
But what happened afterwards completely changed the conversation surrounding away supporters.
Both sets of supporters invaded the pitch following the final whistle, while objects and pyrotechnics were thrown during ugly scenes.
An independent inquiry subsequently examined the incident and concluded that a “violent mass confrontation” had only narrowly been avoided.
Both clubs were also charged over the disorder.
That history now hangs heavily over the next cup meeting.
And then the League Cup rules created another twist
Unlike the Scottish Cup, the League Cup does not provide Celtic with an automatic entitlement to another bumper allocation.
In fact, the wording of the official competition regulations has created a rather extraordinary possibility.
According to a BBC report examining the SPFL’s Scottish League Cup Competition Regulations, Rangers could technically be required to provide Celtic with just 50 tickets.
The relevant regulation states:
«“The Home Club shall forward to the Visiting Club ‘without charge’ tickets, in the numbers set out below, so that they will be in the hands of the Visiting Club on or before the fifth day before the Match (unless under circumstances which render this impracticable) – 10 for Directors’ Box, 40 for the Stand.”»
That is the entire basic allocation specified in the regulation.
Ten tickets for the Directors’ Box.
Forty for the stand.
Fifty tickets in total.
That would obviously be a staggering difference from the 7,500 Celtic supporters who travelled to Ibrox for the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
It would also be a dramatic reduction from the roughly 2,500 away supporters that have been accommodated under the clubs’ more recent reciprocal arrangements.
But 50 tickets may not be the final answer
There is an important distinction here.
The fact that the regulations allow for a minimum of 50 complimentary tickets does not necessarily mean Rangers will actually give Celtic only 50 supporters’ tickets.
There has previously been an agreement between the clubs around a five-per-cent allocation for away supporters, which would put the Celtic contingent at approximately 2,500 for a fixture at Ibrox.
And with the League Cup quarter-final expected to attract live television coverage, there is another factor to consider.
Broadcasters will want the stadium to provide the kind of atmosphere associated with an Old Firm derby.
A completely empty away section would obviously look and sound very different from the traditional spectacle.
That could make a larger allocation more likely.
Rangers supporters have already made their feelings known
Nevertheless, there has already been a significant reaction online from Rangers supporters calling for Celtic fans to be kept out of Ibrox altogether.
Their argument is straightforward.
After the scenes that followed the Scottish Cup quarter-final, they believe another large away allocation would be difficult to justify.
Celtic supporters, unsurprisingly, are likely to see things very differently.
For them, the idea of travelling with only a tiny fraction of the support they had at the previous cup meeting would be an enormous disappointment.
And that is why the eventual decision could leave one side — or potentially both — furious.
Celtic now wait for the final decision
For the moment, neither Rangers nor the SPFL has publicly confirmed the final ticketing arrangements, with the clubs reportedly reluctant to comment while the details are still being worked through.
But the rules have already opened the door to an extraordinary scenario.
The regulations mean that Rangers could theoretically fulfil their basic obligation with 50 tickets — 10 for directors and 40 for the stand.
Whether the club actually chooses to do that is an entirely different matter.
The more likely outcome could still involve an agreement closer to the previous five-per-cent arrangement.
But after what happened at Ibrox in March, there is now considerably more scrutiny surrounding the decision.
The Old Firm quarter-final was already guaranteed to be explosive.
Now, before a ball is kicked, the ticket allocation could become the first major battle of the latest Rangers-Celtic saga.
Nafisa
