Rangers face significant financial threat as politicians target tripled Ibrox policing costs

Rangers face significant unbudgeted overheads as political pressure mounts to force clubs to fund surrounding public space security after derby policing expenses tripled.

Police Scotland data reveals the total spend for 12 league fixtures between the Glasgow rivals reached £444,030 over the last three seasons.

Operations soared from £69,718 in the 2023-24 campaign to £231,364 last year, prompting demands for a legislative amendment to the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.

Political Push Targets Club Budgets

Labour MSP Paul Sweeney is pushing for a “polluter pays” approach, which would remove current legal protections that limit policing bills strictly to club-owned land.

This legislative push creates a major new financial risk for the board just as commercial and squad investments remain critical priorities.

Unsustainable Public Financial Burden Identified

Sweeney labelled the rising taxpayer bill “unsustainable” and argued commercial entities generating high revenue must contribute a “much fairer share towards the costs of policing the public spaces surrounding their stadiums”.

A Police Scotland spokesperson noted that recovering expenses currently typically relates to the deployment of officers within the stadium footprint.

Temporary Away Fan Ban Agreed

The staggering operational demand of securing visiting supporters has heavily influenced the ongoing away allocation row.

A “temporary arrangement” has now banned visiting fans from league derbies this season.

Derek McInnes will next lead his side out at home in the Premiership against St Mirren on Wednesday.