Rangers fans called upon to ‘get over’ Old Firm derby down under by BBC pundit
Rangers have accepted an invitation to play in the Sydney Super Cup in November where they will play their arch-rivals Celtic in Australia.
It was confirmed on Wednesday [2 March] that the two Old Firm rivals will take on Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers of the A-League in an eight-day tournament which will include the first-ever Old Firm derby outside of Scotland.
Both clubs are set to receive seven-figure sums for their participation in the tournament which is just as much as they would earn from an entire season of Scottish Premiership football [Scottish Express].
Former Light Blues defender Richard Foster thinks supporters of both Old Firm sides need to get over the fact that the biggest game for each club isn’t going to happen in Glasgow.
“It’s a nice break; it will be good for all the supporters in Australia that don’t get to travel to an Old Firm game,” BBC Scotland pundit Foster said on the PLZ Football Show.
“It’s just a tournament in Sydney so go and embrace it, and enjoy that Celtic and Rangers are big enough to warrant these countries to get them over there to play a tournament, which I think is good for Scottish football in the end.
“If fans are over here complaining for whatever reason, they can’t get to the game, or that they shouldn’t be playing friendlies, I think they maybe should just get over it.”
Money spinner
In a world where both Rangers and Celtic want to progress and compete with Europe’s elite again, this is nothing but a great thing for Scottish football.
As Foster mentions, the fact that these sides are big enough to warrant interest from the other side of the globe is a glowing remark on the potential they have.
As the World Cup will be taking place at the same time in Qatar, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and the majority of his squad won’t have much else to do so why not head down under and experience something they would otherwise be unable to?
The financial benefits are simply too good to ignore for Rangers and they will tighten their grip on Scottish football when they receive their participation money for the Sydney Super Cup.
It might irk some supporters but they’ll get over it very quickly, what else are they going to do?
In other Rangers news, this “excellent” goalkeeper has been offered a deal at Ibrox from next season.