- No news is imminent on Rangers allocation for the final Old Firm game of the season
- Rangers allocation is in doubt after Celtic wanted to decide which away fans could attend
- SPFL sub-committee is expected to rule on the matter later this week
Rangers will need to wait until later this week to learn the outcome from the SPFL over the ticket allocation dispute with Celtic for the final Old Firm clash of the season.
Last Friday, the breaking news added further intrigue and drama to the title race situation, with Celtic seeking to control how Rangers allocated away tickets for the game.
The home club demanded that Rangers do not distribute any tickets to the Union Bears supporters group, following the scenes on the pitch at Ibrox after the Scottish Cup meeting last month.
As Rangers have turned down the request, the current situation is that the full 2200 allocation is withheld.
SPFL process for decision on Rangers allocation for Parkhead
As reported by Rangers Review, talk of a Monday decision has been ruled out and considered premature with the formal process still to unfold.
With the game taking place at noon on Sunday 10 May, each passing day matters.
The issue is expected to be dealt with by the end of this week, with the SPFL forming a sub-committee to rule on the fallout and ultimately, determine what allocation will be given to Rangers for the game.
That is the intention and general outline of the process, but no date is available for the final outcome.
No margin for error
After Rangers’ damaging 3-2 loss against Motherwell on Sunday, there is no more margin for error on the pitch for Danny Rohl’s team.
For the Old Firm derby to be relevant for the Gers’ title ambitions, a win must be secured against Hearts next Monday.
The same applies to the SPFL and the sub-committee that will issue a ruling on the fallout. They also have no wiggle room.
If they decide that Celtic are within their rights to decide which opposing fans can or cannot enter their stadium, that will set a dangerous precedent.
Read Rangers analysis
The move from Celtic to interfere with the Rangers allocation has been presented as a safety matter, citing attacks on their fans and staff at Ibrox last month.
On that day, Celtic’s Green Brigade was present inside Ibrox despite being banned at the time from their own ground.
Sections of the Broomloan Road stand were vandalised, seats broken, Green Brigade stickers were plastered all over, and the victims of the Ibrox Disaster were mocked and denigrated.
Fast-forward a few weeks and the gb is now back inside Parkhead when the team needs strong support to aid their title bid.
Some would say the whole episode is no more than expediency.
Rangers fans who carried out acts on the pitch after the Scottish Cup final will face consequences. Some have already.
Does that mean there should be collective punishment for the Union Bears, and possibly for the wider support?
The onus is on the SPFL’s convened panel to answer that question in the fairest and most impartial way.
One potential outcome could be the end of away fans altogether in Old Firm games.
Some need to decide what they actually want.
