Home / Sports / Derby Day Lockout: Rangers Blamed for Away Fan Ban
Derby Day Lockout: Rangers Blamed for Away Fan Ban
5 Sep
Summary
- SPFL bans away fans from Glasgow Derby matches due to safety concerns.
- Rangers' ticket offer to Celtic for a quarter-final was just 300.
- Ibrox violence in March 2026 led to the decision for no away supporters.
The SPFL has announced a temporary ban on away supporters for all upcoming Glasgow Derby matches, affecting both the Scottish Premiership and the Premier Sports Cup. This decision was reached after Celtic rejected a meager allocation of 300 tickets from Rangers for a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie, leading the SPFL to implement a blanket ban on away briefs.
The primary catalyst for this drastic measure was the violent disorder that erupted at Ibrox in March 2026 following a Scottish Cup quarter-final. The SPFL stated the ban allows for proper consideration of an independent review's findings and recommendations, ensuring thorough planning for future fixtures with safety as the utmost priority.
The situation was exacerbated by an incident where Rangers supporters invaded the pitch, targeting Celtic fans, stewards, and police officers after Celtic's victory. Despite Celtic raising concerns prior to the match, both clubs received similar punishments, a move criticized as unjust by many Celtic supporters who believe their club was unfairly penalized. The SPFL has committed to reviewing the situation should circumstances change significantly.
