Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers calls for 'standardised' away fans' allocations

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Celtic will have under 600 fans backing them at Tynecastle on SundayImage source, SNS Group

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers would like to see new league rules establishing a minimum percentage of tickets for away supporters.

Rodgers' side will have the backing of just 576 fans at Tynecastle on Sunday, with Heart of Midlothian keen to accommodate more of their own support.

Celtic had more than double that number on their previous visit in May.

"Every club has got every right at this moment to issue what they want to give to away supporters," Rodgers said.

"Until there is something standardised, Hearts are more than willing to do that.

"Of course, as a Celtic manager, I love to see more supporters in there because they come from all over the place to follow their team.

"But hopefully we can standardise a certain percentage for away supporters and that allows all the supporters of all the teams to be able to go and watch their teams."

Scottish Professional Football League rules simply state that a home club must provide tickets for a "reasonable number of visiting supporters…. as may be agreed in advance with the visiting club".

Celtic and Rangers have slashed the number of away supporters at derbies since 2018, with home fans only at several recent meetings.

The Old Firm restrict all league rivals to less than two per cent of Celtic Park and Ibrox in allocations measured in hundreds.

Aberdeen, St Mirren and Kilmarnock have also cut the numbers for Celtic and Rangers fans of late.

"Around some of the grounds, in my first time here, and even now, the idea is, of course, if there is more away allocation, it allows the ground to be filled and obviously to give money and resources to the home team, then of course we would like to be able to do that," added Rodgers.

"But I also understand it from a football perspective why maybe you wouldn't want so many away supporters in.

"Hopefully the federation can standardise a number and then we all know where we stand."

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