Pundit gutted as ‘terrible’ Rangers development emerges on Sky Sports website
Rangers legend Brian Laudrup has expressed his disappointment at the “terrible” news that no away fans will be allowed to attend the last two Old Firm league matches of the season.
Sky Sports (17 March) reported that the remaining two Scottish Premiership matches between the two rivals will go ahead without away supporters following recent incidents in the fixture.
The allocation for such supporters had been cut to less than 1,000 in recent seasons due to ongoing issues at both Ibrox and Celtic Park.
“The decision not to allow away fans at the remaining two Old Firm matches in a real shame,” Laudrup wrote in the Scottish Daily Mail (page 79, 23 March). “I understand if there are safety issues. You don’t want people to get hurt.
“But, when I was at Rangers, these games were so intense, so hyped and world-famous because the atmosphere was absolutely sensational. It’s terrible that there will be no away fans allowed.
“These games are televised all over the world and it’s a fantastic advert for Scottish football. That changes with no away fans. The atmosphere will be different, and it will also be tougher for teams playing away from home.”
Disappointing but fair
Laudrup is spot on with his comments, with supporters just as much a key part of the Old Firm as players, when it comes to both Rangers and Celtic fans.
As he also noted, it will be tricky for the Gers to come away from Celtic Park with smiles on their faces amid the absence of their away supporters, regardless of whether they win or lose.
But safety is paramount, and problems at the stadiums in both sides of Glasgow have left authorities with no choice but to take decisive action on the matter.
Fans of both clubs will be devastated by the news, but will hopefully learn from past transgressions in order to have away fans back at this huge fixture as soon as possible.
Rangers travel to Celtic early next month in the first of the two remaining league matches, with a date yet to be confirmed for the final meeting at Ibrox.
Fortunately, next month’s Scottish Cup semi-final between the two at Hampden Park will not be affected, with ticket allocations to be split.
In other Rangers news, one first-team ace is “likely to sign” a new deal once a formal offer is sent his way.