Chris Sutton backs Rangers-Celtic decision amid ‘petty’ verdict
Chris Sutton believes the return of away supporters in games between Rangers and Celtic from next season is “common sense”.
The final two Old Firm games last season, the first two of this campaign, and the final two of this term, all saw away supporters banned but the SPFL has said that a five per cent allocation will be allowed next season.
Sutton, writing for the Daily Record on 29 March, backed the move saying it is a step in the right direction to a return to full away allocations.
“Common sense has finally broken out over Old Firm tickets,” he wrote. “I just hope this is just the start on the road back to a return to full away allocations.
“Getting around 2,500 visiting supporters into Ibrox and Celtic Park is a step in the right direction. It’s also long overdue.
“The decision to cut the away attendances was petty in the first place and no one can tell me it didn’t diminish the fixture. The reduced amount of 700 was a waste of time and there’s no doubt it made it a nightmare for those fans penned into tiny corners of the stadiums.”
Rangers look ahead to potentially title-deciding Old Firm clash
With away fans set to return to Old Firm clashes from next season, Rangers will hope to take advantage of their next home derby without an away allocation on 7 April as they attempt to bring the title back to Ibrox having last done so in the 2020-21 campaign.
Rangers sit second in the table, just one point behind Celtic, but with a crucial game in hand on their bitter rivals.
Victory at Ibrox in the derby, coupled with victories in their remaining first-phase fixtures, would give Philippe Clement’s men an important advantage ahead of the run-in.
Rangers have perhaps suffered already from the lack of away support in an Old Firm derby this term, slipping to a narrow defeat in their last visit to Celtic Park – a 2-1 loss in December – but will hope to channel a raucous home crowd at Ibrox in their next meeting and exact revenge.
In other Rangers news, Barry Ferguson hailed one member of the Gers’ squad as “a proper Rangers player”.
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