Ally McCoist reacts to Rangers and Celtic fan drama as Old Firm debate rages on
Ally McCoist believes the ugly scenes between Rangers and Celtic fans before the Viaplay Cup final were “pathetic” and he understands why the ban on away fans at Old Firm matches was introduced.
The fierce rivals met at Hampden Park on 26 February in the first chance to win silverware in the 2022/23 campaign, but the build-up was marred with controversy by unsavoury scenes between the two sets of fans.
As reported by the Daily Record (Tuesday 21 March, page 51), ex-Ibrox hero McCoist admitted that the ban on away fans at Old Firm matches this season was disappointing to see and that he hoped they would be allowed back at some point in the future.
He said: ” It is a disappointment. I understand it, and the bampots didn’t help themselves here at the League Cup Final in the morning. Watching all that up here, that’s pathetic.
“They didn’t help themselves but, come on, there is nothing like going to Celtic Park with Rangers supporters and, I’d imagine, as a Celtic player coming to Ibrox with a Celtic support.
“I hope that day comes back. I’m sure it will but I can understand what’s happened recently, and they didn’t do themselves any favours, the young team.”
Hard to watch
The video footage that broke of the two sets of fans chasing each other on the morning of the Viaplay Cup final was disappointing to see, and the rulebook has been thrown at them again as a result.
Everyone involved in Scottish football will hope the ban is just a temporary one and that away fans will be allowed back to the derby day normality at some point soon.
Old Firm matches aren’t the same without travelling support, and it will feel like a massive piece of the jigsaw is missing when the Ibrox faithful aren’t allowed to travel to Celtic Park when the two sides next meet on 8 April.
Luckily there are unlikely to be any title ramifications from the next Old Firm encounter in April, with Celtic all but confirmed as champions in waiting, but if the ban continues into next season, it could play a huge role in who is crowned league champion.
Whoever had the last home Old Firm match would feel they had a significant advantage without any travelling support in the ground – something that could play a key role in which way the Scottish Premiership title goes.
In other Rangers news, a BBC Sportscene pundit insisted he wasn’t showing bias to Motherwell with his furious reaction to one Bears player.