Celtic have formally turned down an allocation of 700 tickets for the Glasgow Derby on September 3.
After an uneasy truce of each club having 700 fans inside their rivals stadium the final two SPFL matches of last season were played in front of home fans only.
No on the record explanation was given but a number of outlets suggested that the change was due to safety concerns for Celtic fans at Ibrox.
At Celtic Park there is a wall and natural break in the stadium in the area housing away fans, conveniently next to the Police Area but at Ibrox segregation areas had to be created on either side of the section given over to the away support.
Safety was an issue with hoops fans basically wedged in surrounded by Ibrox season ticket holders with the issue coming out in the open today with The Sun reporting:
CELTIC have formally rejected Rangers’ offer of 700 tickets for the first Old Firm derby of the season.
And SunSport can reveal Hoops chiefs now want to block Gers fans from attending the Celtic Park return in December.
We told last month how Gers were desperate to end Old Firm lock-outs by extending an olive branch to their Glasgow rivals.
That meant making 700 briefs available for the derby on September 3. Celtic were always reluctant, citing safety fears. Following further talks, Rangers vowed to increase security in the away section.
But Celtic have now officially confirmed they won’t be taking up Gers’ offer with the row now set to rumble on.
It’s understood, Rangers have already written to the SPFL demanding their allocation for the return match in December.
SPFL rules require home clubs to provide a reasonable allocation of tickets to the visiting support, with no definition of what reasonable is the SPFL have little grounds to take any action if Celtic offer 7,00, 70 or just 7 tickets for the December 30 match.
As I understand it the Ibrox club have been offered 700 tickets for Celtic Park regardless of the fact that there is security concerns for visitors and staff at Ibrox Park.
A Reasonable Allocation means nothing if you cannot reason!
Better without imo – just don’t need the hassle not to mention police costs – think celtic know what they’re doing here
So why did Celtic not look for a SPFL Board decision on the matter when the allocation was reduced from the 7,000?
They either were incompetent enough to let the matter escalate, or else they made their way out of the room underneath the door!
Yep always our boards fault Jesus wept
Did you say something?
Have you got that?
Personally I wouldn’t even give them 7 tickets never mind 700 Celtic park far better place without them there.Tell both SFA and Scum no tickets at all.
CEO Nicholson has a duty of care to ensure that the safety of the club’s employees
is not compromised. He has to keep rejecting tickets until / unless adequate
safety & security improvements have been implemented at Ibrox.
However, on a purely selfish point…
in past years, I have never had the urge to take myself – or any family members – to a
Glasgow Derby game.
However, I would love to attend a Derby game at Celtic Park,
devoid of any sevco supporters – and their rancid singing.
Latest “The Sun” headline;
“STANDING FIRM Celtic prepared to risk SPFL sanctions as they double down on hardline Rangers fan allocation stance…”
So, it’s all CFC’s fault then?!
Some pretty desperate spinning going on there by the SMSM,
which could provide a useful distraction for the foaming bears:
to direct their rage away from the Blue Room…?
It will ETERNITALLY be the fault of Celtic FC Bob (original)…
Please all self respectful Celtic Fans –
Do NOT financially support these publications by way of shop purchases or online…
Starve them to their inevitable grave –
It’ll be interesting to see when the next daily circulation figures for these Scottish bibles of lies are due out and what the daily sales trajectory figures are !
Give them zero allocation in December. They began this nonsense for their own reasons and now in the usual media spin we’re to blame. Demanding their allocation indeed, what happened to their concerns about the supposedly safety of their fans that they rejected their last allocation. It didn’t exist. They used it as a PR spin to deflect from the atrocious conditions that celtic supporters had to endure at castle greyskull. Unless our supporters safety can be guaranteed then let the stalemate continue. I firmly agree with this stance taken by the club and hope they stand by it all the way.