Old Firm Derby to Exclude Away Fans, Sparks Criticism

The highly anticipated Old Firm derby will be missing a key element this weekend – away supporters – due to safety concerns and a five-year ticket feud. This marks the first time in over 100 years that the fierce football derby will be played without away fans.

For over a century, Celtic and Rangers have faced each other in one of the fiercest football derbies in the world. However, this weekend’s match will be missing a key element – away supporters.

Both clubs and Police Scotland have decided to lock out Rangers fans from Celtic Park due to safety and security concerns after instances of missile throwing at previous matches.

This decision marks the culmination of a five-year ticket feud that has reduced the number of away fans from 7,000 to just 800, and now to zero.

Andrew Smyth, a die-hard Rangers fan, expressed his disappointment, saying that the current situation hampers the game and atmosphere.

Stewart Franklin, from independent Rangers fansite Gersnet, agreed, stating that not having away supporters at either stadium detracts from the occasion. The absence of away fans has changed the atmosphere and dynamic of the Old Firm Derby, and some argue that it’s no longer the same.

Paul John Dykes from the A Celtic State of Mind podcast recalls the palpable atmosphere in the old jungle at Celtic Park during his first Celtic vs Rangers match in 1992. He describes the intensity of the game, the body heat, the pouring rain, and the roar of the crowd when both teams took to the field. However, he believes that the derby we now have is a shadow of its predecessor.

Kevin Pogorzelski, author of Divided Cities – The World’s Most Passionate Single City Derbies, believes that having no away fans is sad. He states that this fixture is the Scottish Premier League’s most marketable asset, but no one really wants to watch a match where so much is weighted towards one side’s favor.

Dickie Felton of INews said, “As a Celtic fan, I’ll be joining 60,000 others at Celtic Park, singing our hearts out. The atmosphere will be electric, although it’s a shame that there won’t be any away fans to add to the intensity. However, as my fellow fans and I discuss the absence of Rangers fans, we’ll all agree on one thing: “Well, they started it.”