Martin O'Neill Expresses Concern Over Future of Away Fans in Celtic-Rangers Derbies
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed his deep concern regarding the potential loss of away fan allocations at future Celtic and Rangers matches. Following a tense Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, where Celtic triumphed on penalties, incidents marred the aftermath, leading to nine arrests as spectators invaded the pitch. This recent match marked a significant increase in away support, with around 7,500 Celtic fans attending, the largest away crowd for a derby since 2018. Previously, allocations had dwindled to 800, 2,500, or in some cases, no visiting fans at all. The larger attendance was partly due to the rules of the Scottish Cup, contrasting with recent Old Firm ties typically held at neutral venues with evenly-split crowds. In an interview with Talksport, O'Neill noted: "I was a really big advocate of feeling that without away fans, the Old Firm game had lost some of its lustre." He highlighted the extraordinary atmosphere at Ibrox, stating, "the noise... was something I have not heard for a long, long time." He lamented the events that unfolded post-match, stating, "Saddened seems almost like you're minimising or downplaying things." O'Neill concluded that the hope for a vibrant future with full away allocations may now be in jeopardy, emphasizing the magic that such atmospheres bring to the game.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-03-10