Chris Sutton claims postponing Rangers v Celtic next term would risk ‘opening up a can of worms’
Chris Sutton has claimed that the SPFL would be “opening up a can of worms” by postponing Rangers v Celtic next season.
Professional sport in Scotland has been given the go-ahead to restart behind closed doors from Monday onwards, but there is still no indication as to when fans can hope to be allowed back into stadiums.
With that in mind, Parkhead boss Neil Lennon has argued that “everybody” would like to see the Old Firm pushed back next term so as to give supporters the best possible chance of being able to attend.
But Sutton has argued that any such move could cause ructions in the Scottish game.
Writing in a column for the Daily Record, he said: “Neil Lennon has suggested bumping the Glasgow derby until later in the season, until supporters can enter the stadium.
“I get that. But you can’t start picking and choosing what games are played when and where.
“There would be outcry among the other clubs. Would Aberdeen want to wait to play Dundee United in front of fans?
“What about if Rangers go to Pittodrie and play behind closed doors but it’s full when Celtic go? Vice versa at Easter Road? You’re opening up a can of worms.”
Does Sutton have a point here?
Whisper it, but yes, he does.
It’s not that moving the Old Firm back on its own is a bad idea.
The match is the biggest in Scotland by a country mile, and in an ideal world it would be much, much better to have it played in front of a capacity crowd – whether that be at Parkhead or Ibrox.
But once you start moving games around to accommodate certain sides you begin to set an unruly precedent.
Rangers and Celtic may be the most dominant sides in Scotland by some distance, but they’re not the only two sides in Scotland.
These are exceptional circumstances, granted, but in the interests of fairness, next season’s scheduling must not be tampered with too greatly.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox View: Dion McGhee would be promising signing for Gers this summer.