No Away Fans at Old Firm Fixtures This Season
No away fans will be allowed at any Old Firm fixtures in this season’s Premiership or League Cup, after the SPFL moved to shut visiting supporters out of Celtic v Rangers clashes for the entire campaign.
The ruling follows months of tension over allocations and comes in the wake of on-pitch clashes between rival fans after the Scottish Cup tie in March, which triggered an independent review into safety and crowd management.
From 5% allocations to empty away ends
Both clubs had previously signed off on a standard deal: five per cent of the home stadium handed to away fans for all SPFL games. At Ibrox and Parkhead, that meant thousands of rival supporters packed into hostile territory, as has long been part of the Old Firm spectacle.
That framework has now been ripped up.
Rangers, preparing to host Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup on 13 September, offered just 300 away tickets for the tie – a drastic reduction from the usual 2,500 or so – citing their own assessment of the risks around the fixture.
Celtic refused to accept that cut. With the clubs at an impasse, the SPFL stepped in.
After talks involving both sides, league officials, Police Scotland and other agencies, the SPFL confirmed that no away fans will be present at any Old Firm meetings in league or League Cup competition this season.
‘Temporary’ move, long shadow
In a statement, the SPFL described the move as a temporary arrangement designed to give all parties time to digest the findings of the independent review, act on its recommendations and plan future fixtures in more detail.
The league stressed that the decision brings clarity for supporters and matchday organisers who have been left guessing over allocations on a game‑by‑game basis. It also underlined that safety and security remain the driving priorities and that the position could be revisited if circumstances “materially change” during the season.
Arrangements for Celtic v Rangers matches beyond the current campaign will be addressed well in advance of the 2027/28 season, the SPFL added.
For now, the most combustible fixture in Scottish football will be played in front of one set of fans only. The noise will still be ferocious. The stakes will be the same. But with the away ends locked and empty, what does an Old Firm derby look and feel like in this new era?
