In an era where truth often takes a backseat to convenience and misinformation is frequently propagated to further specific agendas, it becomes crucial to occasionally pause, breathe, and challenge the baseless assertions being circulated.
This week, as the away allocation at Derby debates makes a comeback, a narrative has emerged suggesting that both clubs share the blame, with some even pointing fingers solely at Celtic for the entire fiasco.
Such assertions must be challenged.
It’s commendable to see Celtic supporters delving into historical records, highlighting instances where the media has encouraged the Ibrox club’s strategy of ‘Sticking Celtic fans in the corner’.
LISTEN:
Great find by @Gastro_Celtic. We’re putting the finishing touches on an article about the Ibrox ticket allocation and this has certainly made it into the discussion. pic.twitter.com/wt2YvvPv1O
— CeltsAreHere (@HereCelts) July 29, 2023
One might be mistaken for assuming that Gary Ralston of the Daily Record is the head of the Ibrox media team, given the fervour and urgency with which he scrutinises Celtic fans’ celebratory gatherings in the stands at Ibrox.
Ralston’s sole contention for Celtic losing their allocation boils down to this: Celtic are having too much fun at Ibrox. Essentially, Celtic’s dominance over their rivals, particularly in the rivals’ home ground, was becoming too much to bear. This was a bitter pill to swallow for a club that once revelled in its superiority in the 90s and, let’s be honest, continued to feign superiority despite their current status as Celtic’s whipping boys.
Former Ibrox midfielder Josh Windass recounts a psychologically devastating defeat to Celtic in an interview with The Scotsman. Detailing the absolute despair after Odsonne Edouard won the game at Ibrox for a ten-man Celtic.
“Into the second half, Simunovic gets sent off, and I’m in the game thinking ‘oh my god, we’re going to win the league’.
“We mess up, Edouard bends one in. After that game the whole place changed. Honestly, it was weird. I’ve never seen anything like it.
“If we’d have beat them on that day, yeah [we would have won the league].
“It was the strangest thing. The whole place had just gone after that Celtic game.”
The match that Josh refers to marked the last occasion Celtic fans enjoyed their full allocation at Ibrox.
Shortly thereafter, without any consultation with Celtic, Gary Ralston’s desire was fulfilled. Celtic supporters were relegated to the corner. Celtic had no choice but to reciprocate.
Following the pandemic, as we all eagerly anticipated the return of real football, Celtic insiders informed Celtsarehere that the club had reached out to Rangers about reinstating the previous agreement.
Talks were underway but quickly derailed when Celtic couldn’t assure that Rangers’ supporters would receive 700 tickets for the New Year fixture due to the uncertainty surrounding potential lockdown rules. If circumstances permitted, the club was willing to distribute the tickets.
However, in response, the Ibrox board rescinded Celtic’s tickets and completely barred Celtic fans from Ibrox for the season’s first derby. As fate would have it, Celtic were correct not to promise tickets as Scotland went into a circuit breaker lockdown before the fixture occurred. The match was subsequently held a month later, in early February, under the floodlights, with only Celtic fans present.
In what can only be described as one of the most significant missteps in their recent history, Rangers suffered a 3-0 defeat amidst the electrifying atmosphere of a Celtic Park filled with 60,000 Celtic supporters. This game proved pivotal, propelling the Bhoys towards reclaiming their title under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou.
Subsequently, the ticket allocation reverted to around 700 for Ibrox. Last season, Celtic voiced concerns after at least one fan was hit with a bottle in the corner of Ibrox, requiring stitches and medical attention from on-site first aiders. When the safety of Celtic fans in that corner could not be assured, Celtic chose not to claim their tickets for the season’s final derby. In response, the Ibrox club did the same for the Celtic Park fixture.
As we embark on a new season, neither the allocation nor the safety concerns have been addressed. Consequently, Celtic has once again opted not to accept the tickets offered for the Glasgow derby scheduled for the beginning of September.
The media is currently capitalising on this situation, attempting to assign blame. Despite his initial support for the situation, Gary Ralston and his colleagues at Record Sport benefit greatly from the story.
The Ibrox club now faces logistical challenges, having sold season tickets and promised derby tickets to their home fans. A return to the full allocation seems unfeasible. Some suggest a compromise of around 3,000 tickets, akin to a European allocation, but it’s unlikely that Rangers will soften their stance while Celtic continues to win trebles. It would likely take several seasons of Celtic being on the defensive before this issue is thoroughly reconsidered.
Personally, I find it disheartening to witness the dilution and compromise of the derby atmosphere. The silence at Celtic Park last season, when Rangers scored, was uncanny. The quiet was so profound that you could have heard a pin drop. While some fans might appreciate the absence of Rangers supporters to witness it, the atmosphere, whether viewed from the stands or on television, has been significantly diminished. The only instances when the atmosphere becomes electrifying are when the home side dominates the game, as Celtic did under Ange Postecoglou, or as the Ibrox team did last season after the title was already secured.
For the tense matches, decided by a single goal, we can expect more subdued atmospheres at these encounters. As far as I understand, Celtic remains open to compromise, and with that, the debate ends.
