Rangers have announced their intention to accept the allocated away tickets for the final Old Firm derby of the season, scheduled to take place at Celtic Park. Despite this, the Ibrox club has voiced significant dissatisfaction with the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) over its handling of the ongoing ticket dispute with Glasgow rivals Celtic.
In a statement, Rangers expressed that they are "deeply disappointed" by the SPFL's decision to support Celtic's position in the row. This backing, according to Rangers, establishes a "concerning precedent" for how similar issues might be managed within Scottish football in the future. The long-running dispute has seen a significant reduction in away fan allocations for Old Firm fixtures in recent seasons, moving from thousands to just a few hundred.
The SPFL's involvement followed a period of uncertainty regarding away fan attendance at the highly anticipated fixture. While the specific details of the SPFL's intervention have not been fully disclosed, Rangers' reaction indicates a perceived lack of impartiality or a decision that did not align with their expectations or preferred resolution.
This development ensures that Rangers supporters will be present at Celtic Park for the crucial league encounter, albeit in limited numbers. The fixture is often a pivotal moment in the Scottish Premiership title race, and the presence of away fans, however small, adds to the traditional atmosphere of the derby.