SPFL bans away fans as Old Firm double‑header looms in September
The Scottish Professional Football League has announced that away supporters will be barred from every Old Firm fixture this season, a decision that comes as the city rivals prepare for a September double‑header – a Premier Sports Cup quarter‑final at Ibrox on the 13th followed by a league clash at Celtic Park a week later.
Triggering incident and sanctions
The ban follows the shameful scenes that marred last season’s Scottish Cup quarter‑final, when supporters from both sides stormed the pitch after a penalty shootout at Ibrox on March 8. Both clubs were subsequently sanctioned by the Scottish Football Association after an independent review of the incident.
In the wake of the incident, Rangers offered Celtic just 300 tickets for the upcoming cup tie, a proposal the visitors rejected. The offer came after a gradual reduction in away‑fan numbers – fewer than 1,000 were allowed from 2018 and a 5 per cent allocation had been agreed for league fixtures in 2025 and 2026 – but the latest talks have now nullified that arrangement entirely.
The SPFL said the temporary ban will give clubs, police and other stakeholders time to act on the independent review’s findings, ensure safety and provide certainty for supporters and match‑day planning. It added that the arrangement will stay in place until the end of the season but could be reviewed if circumstances materially change.
Club reactions and future outlook
Rangers manager Derek McInnes said he was surprised by the decision, noting that having opposition fans at a derby is always preferable. He recalled police forming a barrier on the pitch to prevent clashes and said the ban caught him ‘on the hop a wee bit’.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill echoed the disappointment, calling the ban inevitable after Rangers’ 300‑ticket offer was turned down. He lamented the loss of atmosphere, recalling early‑century fixtures when full stands made the rivalry ‘absolutely fantastic’, and urged both clubs to eventually resolve the growing problems.
All parties have pledged to work constructively during the ban, with safety remaining the priority, and the SPFL confirmed the position will be reviewed should circumstances change before the season’s end.