Celtic Football Club has submitted an application to Glasgow City Council to install temporary netting in the away section at Celtic Park for Glasgow Derby games next season. This move follows the announcement that around 2.5k away fans will be allowed in to games as of next season.
In recent years, the allocation of away fans for the Derby has dwindled drastically. What was once a vibrant spectacle of rival of 7k supporters has been reduced to just 800 visiting fans due to the Ibrox board’s petulance, and more recently, none at all. The shut out was primarily driven by Celtic and significant safety concerns, notably the injuries caused by missiles thrown from the top tier at Ibrox. Celtic refused to allow their fans to be targets in the corner of the stadium which saw injuries to attendees.
The new agreement between the clubs to allow 2500 away fans marks a return to a more meaningful presence at these matches. However, this increase necessitates stringent safety measures, which Celtic is addressing with their netting proposal. The temporary netting aims to create a safer environment by preventing objects from being thrown between the home and away sections.
The official description of the proposed work submitted to Glasgow City Council reads: “Installation of temporary netting to the Southeast corner between the home and away support. The netting is installed before each Celtic vs Rangers match and disassembled after.” The application was lodged on April 4th.
Currently, we can’t see an application for Ibrox, but given they’re not scheduled to host one of these games until the end of the year, perhaps they’re taking their time.
The return of a significant away fan presence should bring back some of the intensity and rivalry that makes the Glasgow Derby one of the most anticipated fixtures in Scottish football — but safety of both home and away supporters is paramount.
