RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Opinion – Celtic must reduce away allocation for upcoming Glasgow Derby to 300
Celtic to get just 300 tickets for Ibrox? We’d be better off with none! Martin O’Neill lets rip at measly ticket allocation…
8th March 2026 Ibrox , Scottish Cup, Rangers versus Celtic Celtic fans wait at the police cordon. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Martin O’Neill yesterday had his say on the recent revelation concerning Celtic being offered a measly 300 briefs for the upcoming Premier Sports Cup quarter final clash against the Rangers at Ibrox.
The news comes hot on the heels of the news that both clubs will have to play their next home Scottish cup ties behind closed doors. Those sanctions followed crowd disorder after Celtic’s win on penalties in last season’s Scottish Cup quarter-final win on penalties at Ibrox, when 8,000 visiting supporters were in attendance.
8th March 2026 Ibrox , Scottish Cup Quarter Final. Rangers versus Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
That figure was about four times as many away fans that had attended recent Premiership meetings of Celtic and Rangers, due to the Ibrox club starting a tit-for-tat ticket reduction, due to their supporters venting their anger at seeing Celtic supporters celebrate on their own backyard once too often.
The reason for the increase in allocation back in March, was due to the difference in ticketing rules for Scottish Cup games.
After yesterday’s 2-1 win over Falkirk at Celtic Park, Martin O’Neill let his feelings be known about the measly allocation, claiming that the world famous atmosphere of the Glasgow Derby is being diluted due to the absence of a strong travelling support.
8th March 2026 Ibrox , Scottish Cup Quarter Final. Rangers versus Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
“We might as well not get any, if that’s the case,” said Martin O’Neill after yesterday’s Scottish Premiership win over Falkirk.
“Just looking at it from a personal viewpoint, it’s one of the great fixtures. Even if the teams are not of the standard of, let’s say, Paris St-Germain or Real Madrid, it is still a fantastic fixture.
“And you honestly don’t realise how big it is in European games and in the world. People talk about it as a great game. And the best atmosphere is when the away fans have their allocation.
“So, that’s a shame. But very obviously, if they’re going to give us 300 tickets, I would rather say, ‘no’. And we’ll give them one.”
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill is seen during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on 29 August, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The SPFL runs both the Scottish Premiership and the Premier Sports Cup. The two clubs had reached an agreement on ongoing away allocations. On Friday, the Rangers broke that agreement. Celtic must respond in an appropriate manner and reduce the away allocation for the upcoming Glasgow Derby clash at Celtic park to 300 which takes place a week after the cup match at Ibrox.
Celtic should quote the latest Ibrox club’s own statement to justify the decision. If however Celtic go with Martin O’Neill’s wishes and take no tickets at all for the cup match then there should be no supporters of the Rangers at Celtic Park on Sunday 20 September.
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