In light of the chaos unfolding at Ibrox, where the stadium is closed until further notice due to construction and project mismanagement, Celtic find themselves in a quandary regarding the upcoming Glasgow Derby.
With a deal struck to reintroduce meaningful away support to the fixture for the first time in around six years, significant questions arise for Celtic.
The reintroduction of away supporters followed Rangers’ decision to end the 7,000 fan deal, a move largely seen as a reaction to Celtic’s dominance in the fixture. However, with the uncertainties surrounding Ibrox, there are no guarantees Celtic will receive their away allocation for the the New Year Glasgow Derby. Questions over where the match will be held. If Hampden Park is chosen, will Rangers be required to implement pre-agreed safety measures?
Celtic have been vocal about the need for a net around away fans at both Ibrox and Celtic Park. This measure was demanded after incidents where Celtic fans were hit by objects and glass bottles at Ibrox. The previous allocation in the corner posed safety risks that the club is keen to avoid.
While Hampden successfully hosted a 50/50 split in May for the cup final, accommodating just 2,500 Celtic fans presents unique challenges in terms of safety and security. The national stadium is a different beast when dealing with smaller away contingents, raising concerns about whether it can adequately protect fans in the powder keg fixture.
The pressing question now is whether Celtic should grant Rangers their full allocation for the September 1st Derby at Celtic Park without assurances about the New Year Derby’s location and safety measures. There’s a case for Celtic taking the risk and providing Rangers their full allocation, but the potential backlash if Celtic are locked out of the away Derby due to Ibrox’s negligence cannot be ignored.
Serious discussions are needed between Celtic, the SPFL, and the SFA to address these issues. Ensuring fair and safe conditions for away supporters is crucial to maintaining the integrity and atmosphere of the Glasgow Derby. The ball is now in the court of the governing bodies to navigate this unprecedented situation entirely of the Ibrox club’s making.
