March 11th, 2018, was a day that etched itself into Celtic’s history. The Hoops won 3-2 at Ibrox, with Odsonne Édouard’s dramatic late winner sealing the win. But beyond the thrilling victory, this match marked a pivotal moment in the Glasgow Derby that would have lasting consequences for years to come.
The Victory with a Price
Despite being reduced to 10 men for much of the match, Celtic showed resilience and held their nerve. The victory at Ibrox not only further reinforced the dominance of Brendan Rodgers but also sparked a change in the way both clubs would handle away allocations in the future. Rangers, reacting to celebrations post-match, decided to reduce Celtic’s ticket allocation for future Glasgow Derbies.
The Ripple Effect: A Change in Allocations
Rangers’ decision to cut Celtic’s away allocation was met with a response from Celtic. The Hoops followed on by limiting Rangers’ ticket allocation for games at Celtic Park. What followed was a period of changing away supporter numbers, with allocations at times as low as zero, a far cry from the previous norm of 7,000 away supporters. The atmosphere in the games was undeniably negatively altered, as supporters could no longer fill the stands in the same way they once did.
A Glimpse of the Past: March 2025 and the Return of Away Fans
Fast forward to March 2025, and things are beginning to shift once again. Rangers will travel to Celtic Park for the derby on Sunday, and this time, fans will be allowed in the stadium. However, the 7,000-away allocation of years past is now a distant memory. While Celtic allowed 7,000 Hibs fans into Celtic Park last Sunday, Rangers’ decision to play the allocation politics remains an ongoing point of contention.
Looking Back to the Broomloan Stand
The sight of Celtic supporters celebrating alongside the team in the Broomloan Stand, a sight last seen on that historic 3-2 win in 2018, feels like a distant memory. Yet, it’s one that holds great significance for Celtic, capturing the intensity of the Glasgow Derby. Sunday’s game will be a reminder of how far the allocations have fallen, but it’s also a step towards restoring the atmosphere that once defined these thrilling games .
The ball is firmly in Rangers’ court to lead by example and end the politics of ticket allocations, bringing the 7,000 fans back, with Celtic showing last Sunday against Hibernian that they have no problem doing so. However, as history has shown in recent years, there appears to be no willingness from the Ibrox hierarchy to do so.
