Celtic and Rangers confirm away fans will return to Old Firm derbies from next month

Away fans will return to the Old Firm derby for the first time in over two years from next month.

Around 2,500 tickets will be allocated to Rangers for the game that will be played at Celtic Park on Sunday, March, 16.

That will be the biggest away attendance at the fixture since 2018 when there were 7,000 visiting supporters at each of the derbies.

Celtic will receive around 2,000 for their next visit to Ibrox, which will be after the Premiership split, after the clubs agreed on 4% of each stadium’s capacity.

Rangers decided to cut Celtic’s allocation to less than 1,000 seven years ago, with the Hoops responding in kind, meaning all the games between the pair since have had between 0 and 750 away fans in attendance.

Every Old Firm last season, and the first two of this campaign, were played in front of home fans only as a dispute between the clubs rumbled on.

The last league meeting to be played with both sets of fans present was in January 2023 when around 700 Celtic fans watched their side snatch a late point in a 2-2 draw at Ibrox.

Last March they agreed to allocate around 5% of their stadium capacity to visiting supporters, but that was rescinded after another fallout and behind-the-scenes talks involving Glasgow City Council and Police.

That was over a disagreement surrounding security upgrades, including netting, at both stadiums.

But both clubs have now confirmed that away fans will be present in two weeks time after an agreement was reached.

Celtic confirmed the news on Friday, saying: “We can confirm that following the previous SPFL determination from last year and with necessary requirements being addressed, away supporters will be present at the next two Glasgow derby matches this season at Celtic Park (March 16) and Ibrox.

“Allocations will be around 4% of saleable capacity at both stadia.”

A statement from Rangers said: “Rangers supporters will be able to attend our match with Celtic on March 16, with the two clubs agreeing for a reciprocal percentage of tickets to be allocated to away fans.

“Approximately four per-cent of saleable capacity at both stadia will be given to the visiting club, with everyone at Rangers looking forward to having the backing of our supporters in the East End of Glasgow in just over a fortnight’s time.

“The arrangement will then be repeated for the Old Firm derby at Ibrox following the split.”

The Hoops won 3-0 at Parkhead in the first derby of the season before Rangers beat their rivals by the same score line in the New Year’s fixture in January.

The only other meeting between the sides this season was in the League Cup final when the Hoops won the trophy on penalties following a 3-3 draw.