Report claims that Celtic will be offered tickets for Ibrox
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Rangers vs Celtic - Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - January 2, 2023 Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson, former Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell, Rangers chairman Douglas Park and Rangers honorary Life President John Greig pay their respects during a service on the anniversary of the 1971 Ibrox disaster in which 66 people died, outside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
A report in The Sun claims that Celtic will be offered 700 tickets for the opening Glasgow Derby of the season at Ibrox on September 3.
Last season there was a token allocation of away fans at the first two matches between the clubs but with no reason given the remaining two SPFL matches were home fans only.
It is believed that Celtic cited safety concerns following the January 2 match at Ibrox, without any resolution, or announcement, both sides opted for home only crowds at the remaining two fixtures that both produced home wins.
Incoming Ibrox CEO James Bisgrove has been discussing the issue of away allocations at the fixture, tonight in The Sun Andy Devlin reports:
RANGERS are ready to end Old Firm away fan lockouts by extending an olive branch to Celtic.
SunSport can reveal the Light Blues are preparing to offer their Glasgow rivals 700 tickets for the first derby of the new season.
The match is scheduled to take place at Ibrox on September 3, with Rangers making the first move in a bid to find a resolution to the ‘no away fans’ stand-off.
Back in May, new Rangers chief executive James Bisgrove admitted there was still “a long way to go” in the allocation row which has rumbled on since 2018. But it’s understood Gers are now willing to welcome Hoops supporters back to Ibrox.
The ball now appears to be in Celtic’s court over whether or not they accept tickets for the fourth match of the SPFL season.
Ironically Brendan Rodgers is back in charge of Celtic, during his first stint he won four successive matches at Ibrox which prompted the reduction in allocation from 7,000 down to 700.