Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson has confirmed that away fans will head back to Ibrox and Celtic Park for the remaining two Old Firm games this season, but has admitted that a return to the traditional large ticket allocations for the showpiece fixtures is unlikely in the immediate future.
This season’s first two Old Firm encounters between Rangers and Celtic took place in front of capacity home crowds due to COVID-19 restrictions. Celtic is next due to travel to Ibrox on April 3, with this season’s remaining Old Firm game at Celtic Park falling after the Scottish Premiership splits in half for the final five games of the campaign.
Robertson’s statement means that there is set to be 900 away fans following these two games. In the past, Rangers and Celtic fans have been granted allocations of 7,500 tickets for trips to their opposition grounds.
Robertson told Sky Sports News: “There will be away allocation for the next two games. Because of the COVID situation we had back in August the two clubs got together and agreed we wouldn’t have away fans. Because we had red zones we weren’t sure what the COVID situation was going to be for that period of time.”
He added: “It will be the allocation we’ve had for the last couple of years. Going into next year, and the succeeding years after that, as far as I can see it will still be at that level. I don’t think that’s underselling the game, I can see why some might think that.
“From my perspective, a lot of the excitement is what happens on the pitch between Rangers and Celtic. I’m comfortable with where we are in terms of the away fans allocation.”
It was announced last month that outdoor sports venues in Scotland would be free to welcome back full-capacity crowds from January 17, ending restrictions that had been in place since Boxing Day.
Image: Steve Daniels/CC BY-SA 2.0/Edited for size
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