Kieran Maguire outlines ramifications of Old Firm derby in New York amid FIFA’s overseas proposal
Kieran Maguire has suggested that FIFA’s proposal to host domestic league games overseas would not go down well with Rangers and Celtic fans.
FIFA’s proposal applies in principle to domestic leagues across the world, creating a global rule framework which any league can apply for.
La Liga and Serie A matches have already been tipped to have at least one match per year staged abroad per season, though nothing is offical.
The Scottish Premiership could theoretically apply for this, but they would need the approval of the SFA, UEFA, and FIFA itself.
Rangers versus Celtic is the biggest game in Scotland, and Maguire suggests that the Old Firm derby would be the one put forward for the Scottish Premiership, if the situation arose.
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Kieran Maguire says 50,000 Glaswegians would fume at New York Old Firm game
There have already been drama in the Old Firm matches this season, most recently when Celtic fans invaded the pitch at Ibrox during the Scottish Cup quarter final, where Rangers fans then retaliated.
It was the first time that the Broomloan Stand was completely opened back up to Celtic supporters for the first time in years, but the scenes at Ibrox have now put further constraints on fans at Old Firm matches.
| Match | Competiton | Result |
| Rangers vs Celtic | Scottish Cup | 0-0 (Celtic 4-2 on penalties AET) |
| Rangers vs Celtic | Scottish Premiership | 2-2 Draw |
| Celtic vs Rangers | Scottish Premiership | 3-1 (Rangers) |
| Celtic vs Rangers | League Cup | 3-1 (Celtic) |
| Rangers vs Celtic | Scottish Premiership | 0-0 Draw |
The Bears are set to take on the Hoops in the final Old Firm derby of the season at Celtic Park in March, for what could be the biggest game in the Scottish Premiership this campaign.
While speaking on The Price of Football podcast, finance expert Maguire was speaking about FIFA’s worldwide proposal to domestic leagues, and spoke about the possibility of the Old Firm game being held abroad.
Maguire said: “We’ve established that FIFA will do everything and anything for money. I’m not being rude, could you see the Old Firm match taking place in New York?
“You don’t want 50,000 angry Glaswegians, do you?”
Any Old Firm match being held outside of Scotland would be bizarre, but having it in New York, over 3,200 miles away from Glasgow, would cause uproar.
Can FIFA enforce league match change for Celtic and Rangers?
The short answer is no.
New York is completely theoretical anyway, but that’s not to say that the Old Firm derby will not be held outside of Scotland one day due to this framework.
Either way, FIFA can reject applications if requirements are not met, and a match for Rangers against Celtic need plenty of approvals, for obvious reasons.
The Scottish Premiership would have to initiate everything anyway, and that seems unlikely, but you never know in football.
Could we see the Old Firm derby taking place in New York one day? Who knows?
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