Scottish Cup rules give away teams the right to claim up to 20 percent of the total capacity – and Celts are pushing for the full quota
09:53, 10 Feb 2026Updated 09:56, 10 Feb 2026
Celtic fans at Ibrox
Charlie Mulgrew reckons Rangers would implode at the thought of 10,000 Celtic fans inside Ibrox.
The Hoops have been drawn against their Old Firm rivals in next month’s Scottish Cup quarter-final blockbuster. And Parkhead chiefs are pushing for a bumper allocation in line with SFA rules, which allows away teams the right to claim up to 20 per cent of the total capacity.
That could see around 10,000 green-and-white diehards invading Govan, but segregation issues means that number is unlikely to be given the go-ahead by Police Scotland. Celts would settle for reclaiming the traditional allocation, packing out the 7000-capacity Broomloan Stand for the first time since 2018.
But ex-Celtic defender Mulgrew believes any more than that would send the Light Blues over the edge. He told Go Radio: “I don’t know if Rangers could handle that, could they? 10,000 Celtic fans at Ibrox.
“[A chunky away support] is so much better. Both ways it’s so much better. It adds more pressure and it gives the away team a wee bit of help when the fans are getting behind them.
“But it goes the other way. If they are quiet it gives you a help. I just think it gives a much better spectacle is both sets of fans have a good support in the stadium.
“Back in the day when I used to go to Ibrox and watch Celtic, you’d have the full back stand behind the goal. I remember all the beach balls getting put on back in the day for Seville.
“I remember playing at Celtic Park when the Rangers fans were all in. It’s much, much better.”
Rangers legend Barry Ferguson reckons 10,000 Celtic fans would be a non-starter – but yearns for the days of the old away allocation.
He added: “That (10,000 Celtic fans) would be more than normal, but? I’m old school, I like it the way it was a number of years ago. You’re a Rangers player and you’d walk out and Celtic would have 7,000 or 8,000.
“That’s what makes the Old Firm games special. The atmosphere and getting both sets of supporters. The allocation still for me is not enough, I’d like it to get back to what it was previously. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in terms of the 20 per cent.”
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