Feature

Scottish giants given permission to allow full crowds

Celtic and Rangers are both due to once again play games at maximum capacity from next week.

Both clubs have today announced they will be able to welcome full houses at Celtic Park and Ibrox from when Covid-19 restrictions change in Scotland next week.

The Scottish Premiership clubs have been given permission to lift their capacities by Glasgow’s Safety Advisory Group after the Scottish Government announced earlier this week that outdoor venues could allow more than 5,000 patrons if approved by local authorities.

Celtic will welcome up to 60,000 fans for next Thursday’s Europa League game against FK Jablonec, with Rangers allowing a full house of 51,000 for their UEFA Champions League qualifier against Malmo on Tuesday.

Dom McKay, Celtic’s chief executive, said: “I would like to thank our fans for all the fantastic support they have given us in reaching these levels. I would especially like to thank our staff for their tireless efforts and hard work in getting us to this stage.

“Our team have been a leading force in Scottish sport, writing and exercising protocols and procedures to allow us to return to train and play. Now, through their hard work and leadership, we are finally welcoming you, our fans, back where you belong. I must also thank the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and the Safety Advisory Group for all their co-operation.”

Celtic have not welcomed a full crowd since March 2020 with just 18,500 inside the stadium for the recent friendly with West Ham, after 9,000 were allowed in against Midtjylland.

Rangers last played in front of a full Ibrox when they lost to Bayer Leverkusen in a Europa League game in March 2020.

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