Joe McConnell
Brendan Rodgers claims Rangers are to blame for being barred from Old Firm games by away fans, and claims Celtic were “involved”.
Despite an agreement reached in March for this season, there will be no away fans in the first two league derbies this season.
An allocation of around five per cent was due to be put in place before the first Old Firm game at Celtic Park in September – Live on Sky Sport – provided that the necessary requirements were met at both stages.
Celtic said that because there was no guarantee their fans would be able to attend their home game at Ibrox in January, they could not issue tickets for the away game.
“The club’s job is to protect the fans and if there is no guarantee that the second match will arrive [Celtic fans will be admitted] then I think it makes sense that you don’t reciprocate,” Rodgers said.
There will be no Rangers fans at Celtic Park for the first Old Firm of this season
“Celtic did their part in what they were asked to do. None of this was Celtic’s problem, nothing. When you go back to when this all started, it had nothing to do with Celtic.
“Celtic are being dragged into this as if it’s a Celtic-Rangers thing. It’s not a Celtic-Rangers thing, it’s a Rangers thing.
“Celtic are being asked to have this agreement to make the stadium safe, we invest money in this and do the work that started months ago. Both sides have not agreed. It is not complicated, it has not been done.
“It’s not great faith if we allow Rangers fans in, then we get to January and our fans can’t come in.
“The agreement has not been respected, so Celtic must rightly defend their supporters and the club. Unfortunately Rangers fans will lose this game and Celtic will lose the return match.
“Hopefully we can find a way to get supporters in after that.”
Celtic were unbeaten against Rangers in the Premiership last season
Rangers are believed to be confident they will have completed the required work ahead of the clash at Ibrox on January 2.
Philippe Clement’s side are currently playing at Hampden Park due to a delay in work at Ibrox’s Copland Road Stand.
Celtic’s third league match against Rangers is scheduled for March 15 at Celtic Park and the SPFL has confirmed that from that date both clubs will provide “a quota of tickets equivalent to approximately five per cent of their respective stadium capacities for away fans” and added that “this remains subject to all necessary requirements being met at both Ibrox and Celtic Park”.
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