adminRangers are furious after the SPFL refused to intervene in the ongoing Old Firm ticket dispute—a decision that, from Ibrox’s perspective, threatens to unbalance the title race at a critical moment.
The conflict began when Celtic demanded that Rangers ban the Union Bears ultras group as a condition for receiving their usual away allocation for the Premiership match on May 10. Rangers rejected the demand outright, sparking a deadlock between the two clubs.
Celtic’s stance stems from chaotic scenes following the recent Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox, where home fans—including some linked to the Union Bears—moved toward the Broomloan Stand after Celtic supporters spilled onto the pitch to celebrate.
Several arrests were made, including one for an alleged assault on a Celtic staff member and a player. In response, Celtic insists on extra safety measures before allowing any away fans back into Celtic Park.
The clubs had previously agreed to allocate around five percent of tickets (approximately 2,500 seats) to visiting supporters, ending a period when away fans were banned entirely. That fragile agreement now appears close to collapse.
Rangers took the case to the SPFL, hoping the league would enforce the existing arrangement and guarantee their fans’ attendance. Instead, the SPFL sub-committee chose not to step in, effectively backing Celtic’s right to impose conditions.
While calling the situation “extremely regrettable,” the league stated that safety and security are the home club’s legal responsibility. With an independent SFA review of the Ibrox incident still underway, the committee refused to override Celtic’s risk assessment.
The SPFL’s statement read: “The sub-committee then determined that, based on the evidence presented, it would not overrule a risk assessment carried out by the party legally responsible for the safety and security of the event, or interfere with the mitigation measures it considered to be necessary.
Having reached that conclusion, the sub-committee confirmed that five per cent of the stadium was a reasonable allocation.”
That allocation remains conditional, however. Unless Rangers accept Celtic’s terms, their supporters will not be present.
The timing has only heightened tensions. With the title race still finely poised, the absence of away fans at such a high-stakes derby inevitably raises questions about competitive balance and atmosphere.
For Rangers, the ruling feels like a major blow—not just for on-the-day support, but for their title challenge as a whole.
The SPFL has acknowledged a broader issue with how such disputes are handled. A spokesperson confirmed that discussions are already underway to change the rules, with a proposal to extend the deadline for referring cases to the league from 14 days to 35 days before a fixture.
If approved, that would allow for more detailed assessments in future. For now, though, all eyes are on the upcoming derby—and a decision that has added yet another layer of tension to an already explosive title race.
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