Simon Jordan doubles down on call for Rangers punishment in Celtic ticket row
Simon Jordan has doubled down on his call for Rangers to be punished amid their ticket row with Old Firm rivals Celtic.
There will be no away supporters at the first two derbies of the season after the Hoops U-turned on their decision to hand the Light Blues an allocation of 2,500 at Parkhead, due to fears Ibrox wouldn’t be ready to do the same.
Jordan has previously called for the Gers to be sanctioned for breaching their agreement with the Hoops and SPFL and discussing the issue again, he has suggested Philippe Clement’s side should have no excuses.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday (19 August, 12:17) he said: “Rangers should be consequenced because they gave an agreement to the SPFL.
“There was an agreement between the two clubs, an understanding that there’d be five per cent of away fans. There should not be an excuse that you’re not ready. Too bad.
“You’re supposed to be ready so you will be consequenced for it.”
Will Rangers be punished for Celtic and SPFL ticket row?
The Old Firm derby is one of the world’s most renowned and exciting fixtures and it is such a shame that there will be no away fans present again for the first two fixtures this season.
Whether or not Rangers are entirely to blame as Jordan appears to have suggested here is open to debate. Celtic may feel that Ibrox wasn’t going to be ready to host away fans, but with the clash still months away, their action feels a little premature.
Ultimately, it should be in the Gers the Hoops and the SPFL’s interest to get away crowds back at these games.
Old Firm clashes are the best advert for the Scottish game there is and the spectacle is being spoiled by this row.
The two clubs have to come together to reach some sort of agreement so the second round of fixtures can be played in front of both sets of supporters. If they don’t, maybe then some punishment could be handed out.
But it is hard to see what benefit fining Rangers or deducting their points would have as Jordan has suggested.
In other Rangers news, Luke McCowas has been backed to shine at Ibrox after a new transfer update out of Parkhead
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