What Celtic and Rangers should do a week on Monday to settle away fan row
Celtic were yesterday given a ‘timely’ Police reminder before the Glasgow Derby cup-tie not to provoke the angry Bears, in an attempt to avoid any ugly scenes at Ibrox tomorrow…
We heard nothing about a Police visit to Murray Park, so does that mean can the Rangers players can do as they please? Or maybe the cops don’t think there will be much chance of them having anything to celebrate against the Scottish Champions who knocked the Rangers out of BOTH cups last season?
‘Timely reminder’ from Police Scotland
Martin O’Neill yesterday revealed at his media conference that Police Scotland visited Lennotown on Friday morning to give the Celtic players a ‘timely reminder’ about their ‘general behaviour’ in tomorrow’s Premier Sports Cup quarter final clash at Ibrox.
Masked thugs with violent intent
Celtic and the Rangers were last month ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors after last season’s quarter-final – won by Celtic after a penalty shootout at Ibrox – was marred by fan disorder with masked and armed Rangers supporters running into the pitch with violent intent to confront the Celtic supporters who had spilled onto the park to celebrate the penalty shoot out victory.
Sunday will be the first time Celtic have traveled to Govan since that day back in early March.
The Scottish Professional Football League recently announced no away fans will attend Old Firm derbies in the league or League Cup this season after Celtic rejected the Rangers offer of just 300 tickets for tomorrow’s game and asked the governing body to intervene.
“You don’t want any sort of punch-ups,” Martin O’Neill
“We had the police come in today, just a little 15-minute meeting to remind us of our behaviour, which I think is a timely reminder,” the Celtic manager revealed at yesterday’s mainstream media conference.
Asked what had been said, Martin O’Neill replied: “They didn’t mention this, but I would have assumed that one of the things that would be considered is what happens in the field of play, because these things can be taken further.
“You don’t want any sort of punch-ups for a start. Secondly, you don’t want excessive celebrations, stuff like that.
Strange not to have any away fans in our area – MON
“But I think it’s just the behaviour in the light of what has happened in recent fixtures. I think that the conversation with the police wouldn’t have taken place had not recent events been brought up to us.”
Asked how having no away fans might impact the match, O’Neill added: “I think the games themselves almost take care of themselves in that sense.
“It’ll be strange in many aspects not to have any away fans in our area. I always felt as if it would give you a crumb of comfort in some description.
“Nervously looking forward to it, excitedly looking forward to it,” the Celtic manager said.
“Talking about getting in front and getting in front are two different things,” Martin O’Neill
The Rangers supporters are of course known for getting on their players backs when things aren’t going to plan, but Martin was coy about exploiting that, and is focused solely on winning the game in a environment that will benefit the home side.
“I suppose if you get in front in the game, that makes them anxious,” Martin suggested. “Talking about getting in front and getting in front are two different things. The crowd will be right behind their team, which you would expect.
“We just do our best. We know that we’re up against a very fine side. We’re up against a crowd that can make a difference. I’d be delighted to be celebrating something in the game.”
The situation will reverse next weekend when Celtic host the Rangers in the first of four Scottish Premiership derbies of the season. After that is over, regardless of the results in these two games, the clubs should get together, act like adults, dismiss the outside noise from supporters, and thrash out an agreement for the next match between the sides with that agreement lasting long term.
A permanent solution to away fan mess is now required
If it’s 1800 away fans, 2500 or 8000 then the agreement is FIXED and will NOT be changed. BOTH clubs will have had one away game with no fans there and the agreement should state that this is fixed indefinitely.
Celtic will take the 800 allocation off the table after Ibrox has been shown to be unsafe for such an arrangement, while the Rangers will presumably not wish to return to the full allocation, even that that gets them around 8000 fans coming to Celtic Park.
So it’s probably going to be the 1800-2500 level and the important thing is for both clubs to agree that this is FIXED going forward. The SPFL has left the door open to the clubs themselves resolving this ongoing row and will be ready to left the ban if a permanent solution is found.
The clubs then tell their own supporters that the matter is now settled with say a review in five years time. Like it or lump it. No Celtic supporter would be losing any sleep over that outcome.
Four months to create acceptable match day plans
With that kind of agreement in place the Rangers have four months to work with Celtic, the Police and local authorities to create an acceptable match day plan for the game at Ibrox the beginning of January 2027.
