Home Alone- report claims that away fans have been banned from Glasgow Derby
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - July 31, 2022 Celtic fans inside the stadium during the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Three weeks before their next clash it has been announced that there will be NO AWAY fans at either of the remaining Glasgow derbies.
Back in 2018 Dave King announced that Celtic’s allocation of the full Broomloan Road Stand of 7,000 tickets would be reduced to the 800 seats that other clubs get.
Celtic repeated that move with a variety of figures in the game complaining that a key aspect of the fixture had been removed.
Last season with some Lockdown regulations still in place the first two derbies were played in front of home fans only but the four matches since have seen around 800 away fans at each fixture.
Issues at the January 2 match at Ibrox and the recent Viaplay Cup Final appear to have hardened Police thinking on the fixture with the Daily Record announcing:
Away fans will be locked out of BOTH the two remaining Old Firm Premiership clashes this season, Record Sport understands.
Talks have been on going between Celtic and Rangers chiefs in recent days over allocations for the derby clash at Parkhead on April 8 and the post-split showdown due to take place at Ibrox.
But it’s now been agreed that visiting supporters will NOT be handed an allocation for either game amid concerns over “safety and security”.
Should the Glasgow derby SPFL matches be for home fans only
Last February’s fixture in front of home fans only at Celtic Park was viewed by many as the best atmosphere at a non European match in years.
Whether there is a way back for next season remains to be seen with King’s decision still impacting the fixture five years down the line.