Away ticket allocation will return for the final two Glasgow Derby matches this season, that’s according to theRangers managing Director Stewart Robertson as reported in Daily Record, however a return of a 7000 plus strong allocation for the Free Broomloan at Ibrox seems a long way off for now.
“There will be away allocations in the next two games. Because of the Covid situation we had back in August, the two clubs got together and agreed that we wouldn’t have away fans.
“Because we had red zones, we weren’t sure what the situation was going to be for that period of time. So there will be away fans for the two games remaining.
“No, that (return to old allocations) won’t be happening this season. It’ll be the allocation we’ve had for the last couple of years. And going into next year and succeeding years after that, as far as I can see, it will still be at that level.”
As ever with theRangers the so-called agreement was anything but. Instead, Celtic had tickets for the 29 August clash at Ibrox sitting in the ticket office, only for the Ibrox club to cancel those tickets at the last moment, after Celtic advised they were willing to match the allocation supplied for the return fixture – initially supposed to be played on 2 January – however, they could not guarantee those tickets and instead advised the allocation would be honoured as long as any Scottish Government Covid restrictions didn’t get in the way.
With theRangers unsatisfied at what was not only a fair response, but also proved necessary when Covid did indeed impact on the fixture schedule and the game was moved back to 2 February, theRangers decided to go ahead with the August fixture in front of their own fans only and Celtic in turn responded by doing the same for the recent 3-0 ‘skelping at Celtic Park.
It is of course a good news story to hear away fans will be allowed to once again attend these key fixtures in the football calendar, but there needs to be further moves to increase the allocation of tickets for a fixture that sells itself for a TV audience on the back of the passion from the stands rather than the often dire standard of football actually offered up.
It is understood Celtic’s preference is to offer over 3000 tickets to the Ibrox club but theRangers have so far been unwilling to agree to an increase for an Ibrox allocation for the Celtic support. As such, much as the original decision made in the first place was to avoid seeing so many Celtic fans celebrating in the Broomloan stand, it appears theRangers are still running scared. Maybe one day they’ll grow a pair on this issue, but don’t hold your breath.
"There will be away allocations in the next two games"
Rangers Managing Director, Stewart Robertson gives updates for away fans for the upcoming Old Firm fixtures 👇 pic.twitter.com/4tTFbfW18o
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 15, 2022
Niall J
tell ’em to ram it Celtic