Old Firm derby: Rangers and Celtic agree away ticket allocations from next season
- Published
Old Firm derbies in the Premiership will have away fans in attendance next season
Rangers and Celtic are to provide derby ticket allocations of "around 5%" for away supporters from next season.
The Scottish Professional Football League made the announcement "following engagement with both clubs".
The two remaining Premiership meetings in this campaign are not impacted by the agreement and will go ahead without any away fans.
Rangers host Celtic at Ibrox on 7 April and there will be a post-split derby at Celtic Park.
Champions Celtic sit top of the league, with Rangers one point behind and have a game in hand.
Given the size of the respective stadia, roughly 2,500 Celtic fans will visit Ibrox next season, with 3,000 Rangers supporters for games at Celtic Park.
Rangers cut Celtic's allocation in 2018, with their Glasgow rivals immediately responding in kind. Since then it has fluctuated between about 750 away tickets and zero in a series of tit-for-tat moves.
Prior to 2018, each team took around 7,000 visiting supporters to league derbies.
'Very positive' & 'not before time' - manager reaction
Rangers manager Philippe Clement described the return of away fans for the fixture as "very positive".
"Everybody loves football with two sides of fans who sing against each other, or sing towards each other and have this atmosphere," said the Belgian.
"Nobody enjoyed the Covid period when there were no fans, it was real difficult, it was hard.
"For me it was also really strange to play in Celtic Park without supporters of ourselves. It was the first time for me, it was a strange experience.
"I think everybody, every player, every manager, wants both sides in the stadium."
And Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers hopes it leads to the return of traditional away allocations in the derby.
"It's absolutely great news for everyone," said Rodgers. "It's certainly something this club has championed for a number of years.
"It's the iconic nature of the fixture and it's because of the supporters. To be able to get 2,500 supporters into the stadium - and hopefully, over time, that can grow as well - it's everything.
"That's what the game's about, the players on the field and the supporters in the stand, especially in this fixture. It's fantastic news, and not before time as well.
"The aim at Celtic was never to change it, so if we can get back to what it was before it was changed then that would be absolutely great news for everyone."
