Ticket allocations for Rangers v Celtic at Ibrox under scrutiny after League Cup quarter-final draw
After the Scottish League Cup quarter-final draw was completed, Rangers were drawn to host Celtic at Ibrox in a tie scheduled for the weekend of 12 September, prompting questions about how many visiting supporters will be allowed.
BBC Scotland examined the competition rules in Annex 2 — The Scottish Professional Football League Cup Competition Regulations — and identified section 11, Admission Arrangements for Visiting Clubs and clubs, as the relevant guidance on ticketing. The regulations state: "11.1 The Home Club shall forward to the Visiting Club 'without charge' tickets, in the numbers set out below, so that they will be in the hands of the Visiting Club on or before the fifth day before the Match (unless under circumstances which render this impracticable) - 10 for Directors' Box, 40 for the Stand." The rulebook also records: "11.2 No Official or Player of the Visiting Club shall be entitled to enter the Home Club's Ground without a ticket."
A strict reading of those provisions suggests Rangers would only be obliged to provide 50 tickets to Celtic for this League Cup match — 10 directors' box places and 40 stand tickets — although clubs do not always follow the cup regulations in isolation. Clubs commonly replicate arrangements agreed for league fixtures instead, using an existing framework to decide allocations between home and visiting clubs.
The league-match framework is set out in the regulations: "The Home club must make provision for the admission of such reasonable number of visiting supporters at every home League Match and Play-Off Match as may be agreed in advance with the Visiting Club and, in the event of their being unable to agree such number not later than 14 days prior to the date of the League Match or Play-Off Match in question, the number of visiting supporters allowed shall be determined by the Board whose decision shall be final and binding." In recent seasons the two clubs settled on roughly 5% of the ground as a compromise, which equated to about 2,500 away fans at Premiership Old Firm fixtures.
That compromise figure has been the practical template for high-profile Old Firm matches and is the likely starting point for discussions over an allocation for Celtic at Ibrox, according to reporting on the matter. The disposition of tickets for cup ties can, however, differ from league practice where competition rules or mutual agreement require it.
The question of visiting allocations was sharpened by the disorder after Celtic's Scottish Cup victory over Rangers at Ibrox in March, which prompted an independent inquiry that criticised both clubs and "virtually every aspect of the tie from an operational and safety standpoint." The review concluded that "a violent mass confrontation" was only narrowly avoided after spectators from both sides went onto the pitch following Martin O'Neill's side winning a penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals, and noted that Celtic supporters had been given the whole of the Broomloan Stand under Scottish Cup provisions that allow a larger visiting allocation.
The scenes in March, which included fireworks being thrown and multiple arrests, have reduced the likelihood of very large away allocations in future; the article states the chances of 7,500 away fans at either ground now appear remote. How that assessment will translate into a specific ticket number for the League Cup quarter-final has yet to be resolved.
The fixture date and kick-off time will be determined by broadcasters once live picks are confirmed, with supporters expected to know within a day or two which matches have been selected and when; Rangers v Celtic is described as certain to be the jewel in the television crown for the quarter-finals. Both Rangers and the SPFL say it is too soon to comment on ticket arrangements, and there may be negotiations between the clubs before a final allocation is set.
