UNEXPECTED – Celtic have BANNED Rangers…. ahead of Old Firm Derby at Parkhead

The dispute over ticket allocation for the final Old Firm match of the season has been referred to the SPFL after Celtic refused to provide away tickets to Rangers—unless Rangers agree to ban their Union Bears ultras group from attending.

A subcommittee of the SPFL board is expected to meet next week to review the matter, just ahead of the crucial clash scheduled for Sunday, May 10.

Tensions have been high since the Scottish Cup quarterfinal on March 8, when chaotic scenes broke out at Ibrox following Celtic’s penalty shootout victory. Fans from both clubs invaded the pitch, and the aftermath continues to resonate. An independent investigation led by sports event consultant Mark Blackbourne is still ongoing, with no findings released yet.

With Hearts also in the title race alongside the two Glasgow giants, the stakes for the upcoming derby could hardly be higher.

In this context, Celtic is pushing for stricter control over ticket sales, specifically calling for the exclusion of a segment of Rangers supporters they believe was directly involved in last month’s unrest.

Rangers have rejected the demand outright. The Ibrox club stated: “Celtic FC informed us that they will not provide any tickets for the forthcoming game to our supporters unless we agree not to allocate tickets to members of the Union Bears. We have firmly rejected those conditions and have referred the matter to the SPFL board.”

Rangers also emphasized that they have already condemned the March 8 incidents and have been collaborating with Celtic to ensure the next match is safe. They warned that removing away fans from such a high-profile game could undermine competitive balance at a critical point in the season, set a dangerous precedent for future campaigns, and miss an opportunity for Scottish football to show constructive progress.

Rangers have called on the SPFL to “uphold the integrity of the competition, enforce the rules, and ensure that the agreement in place between both clubs is honored.”

Celtic, however, maintains that it is not trying to completely block Rangers fans, but rather make a reasonable safety request based on a detailed risk assessment. The club said: “Celtic’s priority will always be the safety of those attending Celtic Park… the club has made a reasonable request of Rangers FC that tickets are not distributed to a section of supporters which very recently and identifiably engaged in serious violence and disorder.” Celtic added that it was surprised and disappointed by Rangers’ refusal and remains open to further talks with both the SPFL and Rangers.

With both clubs standing firm and the league now involved, the final decision could affect not only this match but also the handling of future Old Firm fixtures.