Rangers have voiced strong frustration after a Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) sub-committee backed Celtic’s position regarding ticketing arrangements for the upcoming Old Firm clash, while confirming they will still take up their full away allocation for the fixture.
The decision centres on the exclusion of the Rangers fan group known as the Union Bears from the allocation for the match at Celtic Park on 10 May, following recommendations linked to crowd disturbances during the sides’ Scottish Cup meeting in March.
During that earlier encounter at Ibrox, the match was overshadowed by disorder after sections of supporters entered the pitch following Celtic’s penalty shootout victory, prompting disciplinary scrutiny and a review of supporter allocations for future fixtures.
A statement from Rangers described the SPFL ruling as “deeply disappointing,” arguing that it effectively upheld what the club views as an “ultimatum” from Celtic. The club warned that the decision could set a troubling precedent for how away ticket allocations are handled in Scottish football going forward.
The SPFL sub-committee ultimately ruled in favour of Celtic’s stance, supporting the exclusion of the Union Bears group from the away allocation. In response, the group itself issued a statement criticising the decision as an attack on supporter culture, though it later indicated it would not seek inclusion in the ticket distribution.
Despite their objections, Rangers confirmed they will still accept approximately 2,200 tickets available for travelling supporters, emphasising the importance of fan presence in a high-stakes fixture.
“Our club, our supporters and the reputation of Rangers will continue to be defended robustly,” the statement read, while also reaffirming cooperation with football authorities as wider investigations into the March incident continue.
The governing body involved, the Scottish Professional Football League, has faced scrutiny over its handling of the dispute, which has highlighted ongoing tensions around crowd control, supporter identity, and allocation agreements in high-profile fixtures.
The opposing side, Celtic, had maintained that restricting certain supporter elements was necessary following safety concerns raised after the previous derby meeting.
Attention now shifts back to the pitch, where Rangers—currently chasing league leaders—face a crucial run of fixtures. However, the off-field debate surrounding fan allocations ensures that the latest chapter in the Old Firm rivalry continues to extend well beyond football itself.
