Brendan Rodgers backs Celtic stance amid Rangers Old Firm ticket battle
Celtic have made the right decision to knock back an offer of 700 tickets for the Old Firm derby with Rangers on 3 September, according to Brendan Rodgers.
The Hoops boss has backed his side’s stance in the ongoing ticket war between the two Glasgow clubs. Celtic plan to deny Gers supporters any tickets during the return fixture at Parkhead in December.
As per the Daily Record (18 August), Ibrox bosses will demand their minimum allocation when they travel to their rivals and are prepared to complain to the SPFL if they are denied, although Celtic officials are prepared to fight any intervention from the league and will not let the Light Blues in under any circumstances.
The past two derbies have taken place with just home supporters in attendance, and while Rodgers has previously expressed the derby is damaged by the shutout of away fans, he is now on board with his club’s recent decision.
“I think ultimately, from the club’s perspective, it’s about the safety of the game. That’s obviously the priority,” Rodgers claimed, as reported by the Daily Record (18 August).
“I’ve obviously been lucky enough to watch the games over many years and to be a part of them in my first period here. I probably don’t want to get too much into it just now because of the timing of it. I can talk more leading into the game on it. But I’ve got my own views on it having felt the atmosphere and everything with it.”
No choice
Rodgers has previously suggested that an Old Firm derby is damaged without away supporters, in quotes reported by the Daily Record (18 August).
“I think over the course of the games, home and away, they have been great spectacles, partly because of the impact of the away support. That’s now limited.”
Although it now seems as if Rodgers is siding with his employers as pressure and tensions surrounding the ticketing situation continue to increase. This won’t be helpful to fans as it will give Celtic even more ammunition to make the choice they are making.
Supporters are what makes the Old Firm derby one of the most famous club rivalries in the world and without them, the match certainly isn’t the same.
However, safety must be the number one priority for club officials and both sets of fans will just be hopeful a decision can be made one way or another.
In other Rangers news, the club have seriously considered a bid to sign a young English international player.