Tongues immediately got wagging when Celtic discovered their next Scottish Cup opponents.
The Hoops will face Rangers at Ibrox in the quarter-final, and that in itself is a story – but quickly, attentions turned to the stands.
Away allocation discourse has plagued the Glasgow Derby for almost a decade at this point. In 2018 the Ibrox side made the abrupt call to end the traditional away ends which made the matches unique.
This led to years of pitiful allocations which led to fan safety concerns. These allocations were increased last year, but they still pale in comparison to the traditional spectacle.
These new allocations have been on display in the Scottish Premiership, but as we are now finding out, the Scottish Cup brings different possibilities.
Do you reckon these reduced allocations have taken the edge off the Glasgow derby?
Credit: Getty Images/Mark Runnacles Police Scotland on Celtic vs Rangers allocation
As the away side in the tie, Scottish Cup rules allow Celtic to request up to 20% of the opposition stadium for away fans; up to around 10,000.
This number is higher than the capacity of the Broomloan stand, which many Hoops fans will remember as being a sea of green and white on derby days.
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Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
Many eyes have been on the authorities, with speculation that they could step in to prevent a return of the old allocation.
However, a new statement has indicated that this isn’t the case, instead pointing the finger at football people to decide the allocations.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland told the Daily Record: “Ticket allocation is a matter for the clubs and football authorities.
“A proportionate policing plan will be in place to maintain public safety and minimise disruption ahead of the fixture at Ibrox in March 2026.”
Covid excluded, the game is the first time that Celtic will face Rangers before Hampden in a cup tie since 2011’s epic double-header.
That tie saw a ten-man Celtic secure a replay at Ibrox, with Scott Brown’s second equaliser giving birth to the iconic ‘Broony’ celebration.
The replay ended up being described as a ‘shame game’ for what happened on the pitch. Three Rangers players were sent off, and Neil Lennon squared up to Ally McCoist in the dugout after full-time.
Mark Wilson scored the only goal of the replay, sending the Celts through in a goal that Sasa Papac most definitely will not remember.
Those were the days.
What do you make of Celtic’s Scottish Cup quarter-final draw at Rangers?
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