Celtic will face theRangers in the Sydney Super Cup to be played in November this year over the course of five nights at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
In what is a controversial decision to say the least from Celtic, and one that has caused supporters organisation Celtic Shared to condemn the decision, the Hoops will also compete alongside Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers as well as Scotland’s newest club.
Journalist Vince Rugeri has confirmed the plans in today’s Sydney Morning Herald stating…
Sydney’s Accor Stadium will host the first-ever Old Firm (sic) derby played outside of Scotland, with Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic, (the)Rangers and two A-League teams locked in for a mini-tournament known as the ‘Sydney Super Cup’ later this year.
The Sydney Super Cup, which starts on 16 November and will be held in NSW, will also involve Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers, and will feature three matches played over five nights, although final details have not been released’
Meanwhile Western Sydney’s Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport, Stuart Ayles has also confirmed the tournament will take place, understandably hailing it as a coup for the City.
“Sydney has kicked another goal as Australia’s home of football with the world’s best clubs coming out to play our hometown heroes in the Sydney Super Cup. What better way to start than with a historic rivalry like the Celtic vs (the)Rangers derby.
“This will be the first time in history this iconic matchup has been played outside of Scotland, so this will be a huge attraction for football fans domestically and abroad.”
The tournament will be a homecoming for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou who, controversy aside, appears delighted and proud to have the opportunity to take his Celtic side to Australia and show them the level of support Celtic has in the country.
“That’s where my roots are, that’s where I grew up and I know that since I’ve been in this position at Celtic, people have been following my journey, whether they know me or not, and I’ll have a great sense of pride going back to Australia as manager of Celtic,”
“It will be special. The club’s always had a strong connection with Australia, and I know how passionate the supporters’ groups are down there and how they follow the club, whether that’s been with Tommy Rogic or Scotty McDonald, or Jackson Irvine – people who have passed through the club – and now I am manager of the club.
“And I think the Australian public in general will take great pride that one of theirs is in charge of such a famous club.”
Fans Group ‘Celtic Shared’ made their feelings known yesterday as news leaked prior to any official confirmation of the tournament when they took to social media to highlight their opposition to the move.
‘Following the proposed appointment of Bernard Higgins, the Celtic board have now seemingly jumped into bed with our rivals by arranging a friendly tournament with them in Australia. We await official confirmation, but make no mistake this will be opposed vehemently by supporters.
“This is another example of their refusal to engage with the fans. If they had, they’d have been told in no uncertain terms this was not a good idea. We’re now looking at more unnecessary distractions as we approach one of the tightest title races in years. Think again, Celtic.”
This is another example of their refusal to engage with the fans. If they had, they’d have been told in no uncertain terms this was not a good idea. We’re now looking at more unnecessary distractions as we approach one of the tightest title races in years. Think again @CelticFC
— Celtic Shared (@Celtic_Shared) March 1, 2022
Celtic Shared wouldn’t proclaim to speak for the whole support on the matter, but the idea the club continue to push for the return of an ‘Old Firm’ type brand is controversial. And it has to be noted that as the day progressed yesterday and this news started to sink in the opinions on social media started to change with more supporters seeing no problem with these games happening. Perhaps the younger supporters are less concerned with the historical situation and in particular the events of 2012 and the everything that followed including the Big Same Club Lie.
Whilst not every supporter by any means is against the move, it is clear many clearly are, with some feeling such a move adds legitimacy to theRangers and mainstream media driven narrative of the continuity myth, as well as being seen as theRangers riding on the coattails of Celtic’s Australian connections developing marketing opportunities, and as such making substantial financial gains on the back of Celtic’s marketing pull in the region.
Celtic of course could have tested the strength of feeling amongst the fans at a recent Fans Forum, but it would appear the matter was never raised.
Niall J
.@CelticFC @RangersFC 𝐈𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚. 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃.
The fierce 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 will play their first ever derby outside of Scotland in The Sydney Super Cup against @IsuzuUTE A-League clubs @SydneyFC & @wswanderersfc.
Details: https://t.co/csmJnaMZzu#WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/Zw4RAAYmsc
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 2, 2022
The board of celtic no nothing about the hatred sevco have in everthing we Celtic_fc_1888 are about no matter how much money is on offer we as Celtic_fc_1888 supporters are disgusted that Celtic_fc_1888 board are recognising sevco are still rangers of old after cheating the country of tax to buy players they otherwise could not afford its not a myth ask barrie fereguson how went bankrupts
That CELTIC board should be removed NOW they aren’t interested in us fans who put our money into paradise they’re only interested in keeping the old firm name alive so hopefully paradise tonight kicks off with anger and booing and let they scum on our board hearsnus they are dirty money grabbing scumbags honest not interested in the CELTIC fans there own fans but just there money wake up CELTIC fans because its now time to put our feet down dirty scum onmournboard.