Rangers cancel Celtic fans' tickets for SWPL game at Ibrox over security concerns

Rangers have cancelled Celtic’s ticket allocation for Sunday’s women’s Old Firm derby over security concerns.

The two teams are due to meet at Ibrox this weekend in SWPL action but after receiving information about “risk” supporters groups potentially attending, the away side’s ticket allocation has been cancelled.

The Ibrox side say an urgent meeting was called with the two clubs and Police Scotland, with the force suggesting a “sizeable resource” of policing would be required at short notice.

A Rangers statement read: “It is with regret that all tickets purchased by Celtic FC supporters for Sunday’s match at Ibrox have sadly had to be cancelled.

“Intelligence received by Rangers and Celtic on Thursday suggested groups of ‘risk’ supporters in a significant number had purchased tickets from the Celtic allocation.

“Rangers called an urgent operational meeting between both clubs and Police Scotland, with Police Scotland indicating they would need to deploy a sizeable resource at short notice as opposed to it initially being a police-free fixture.

“Rangers is committed to ensuring there are away supporters at our matches for both our men’s and women’s teams.

“However, a unique selling point of the women’s game is the unsegregated, family-friendly atmosphere, with many children attending these matches.

“Taking all of that into account, Rangers’ security team decided it would be unsafe to allow these ‘risk’ supporters into the stadium, and with Celtic unwilling to cancel just their tickets, the decision to cancel all tickets was taken.

“Rangers have informed Celtic, the SWPL and Police Scotland of our decision.”

Celtic say the decision is “hugely disappointing” and that a “number of options” were available to the home club to allow fans to attend safely.

A club statement read: “It has been confirmed to Celtic football club just this morning that all away tickets will be cancelled for tomorrow’s women’s SWPL match at Ibrox Stadium.

“At a time when so many are working so hard to promote and support the women’s game in Scotland, the decision to deny access to so many fans is hugely disappointing, even more so given that there were a number of options available to the home club to allow our fans to safely attend in a stadium of such capacity and given the expected crowd.

“Celtic will liaise with the home club regarding refunds for all tickets and will communicate to our supporters who had purchased tickets as soon as possible.”