Featured Image: Jim Easton/ CC BY 2.0/ Edited for size
Rangers fans will not attend the upcoming Old Firm match against Celtic at Celtic Park – also known as Parkhead – on December 30 in the Scottish Premiership.
The move follows on from the first derby fixture of the current season at Ibrox, as well as the last two league games between Celtic and Rangers in the previous campaign, which also saw no away fans in attendance.
Away fans have been banned from games between the two Glasgow clubs due to a ticketing dispute over fan safety.
Rangers said that despite winning a case put to an Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) board sub-committee, which agreed that Celtic’s stance of providing no tickets to Rangers fans was unreasonable, a number could not be reach due to a lack of evidence from Celtic.
In a statement, Rangers said: “Despite winning a case put to an SPFL Board Sub-Committee, Rangers FC, with extreme disappointment, will not have any supporters present at Parkhead for the Old Firm match on December 30.
“The Sub-Committee agreed with Rangers that Celtic FC’s stance of providing zero tickets to Rangers’ fans was unreasonable. Despite the fact that the Sub-Committee agreed with Rangers, the Sub-Committee was unwilling to determine what a ‘reasonable’ number of tickets for the fixture would be.”
The statement added: “The Sub-Committee was unable to determine this reasonable number due to the fact that the other party had not submitted enough evidence on this issue, despite having ample opportunity to do so in the weeks and months leading up to the hearing.”
According to a report from the BBC, Celtic refused around 700 tickets for September’s match at the 50,000-capacity Ibrox Stadium due to safety concerns.
In a responding statement, Celtic said: “Given the recent serious safety and matchday issues which our fans have experienced at fixtures at Ibrox and Celtic Park, Celtic’s position on this matter has been very clear.
“Celtic welcomes the opportunity to seek to resolve these important issues, and it was a hearing for which the club was very well-prepared.We are pleased that the sub-committee recognised the importance of safety and matchday experience issues in considering the question of a reasonable allocation for both fixtures.”
Celtic added: “While respecting the ongoing process, Celtic stands by its decision not to allocate any tickets for away supporters for the match on December 30. Celtic will continue to focus on the importance of safety and matchday experience issues as we look to address reasonable allocations at Celtic Park and Ibrox from next year, in a responsible manner.”
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