‘Celtic and Rangers to reap dividends after new agreement’
Celtic will host Rangers fans for the Old Firm derby on 16 March after an agreement between the two bitter rivals was struck.
Hoops fans will also be welcomed to Ibrox following the split later this season – with away fans last attending the Old Firm derby in 2023.
The rivals have announced a reciprocal percentage of tickets to be allocated to away fans – with 4% of saleable capacity set to be given to the visiting side.
Celtic lead Rangers by 16 points at the top of the Scottish Premiership ahead of the meeting at Parkhead later this month.
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has had his say on the agreement.
Rangers and Celtic traditions ‘worth preserving’ as Old Firm away fans return
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness has insisted the return of away fans is “long overdue”.
Rangers and Celtic fans had been allocated around 7,000 tickets at their rivals’ stadium as recently as 2018.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 1 | Celtic | 29 | 75 | 70 |
| 2 | Rangers | 29 | 59 | 33 |
Wyness insisted the atmosphere generated by rivals supporters is what makes the Old Firm “great”.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It’s long overdue.
“I’ve been to a number of Old Firm derbies myself, particularly when I was up at Aberdeen as CEO, and it is special.
“You do need the atmosphere, that’s what makes it great.
“The clubs have found a way to do this, so I welcome the chance to get that atmosphere back.
“It’s one of the great footballing traditions. I know there has been danger around the fixture, but we’ve got to find ways to police that.
“I think it’s worth preserving as one of the great football spectacles and traditions.”
Celtic and Rangers told to expect stadium bans
However, Football Insider has been told by Keith Hackett (28 February) that Celtic and Rangers will continue to be fined and then face a stadium ban in Europe for the behaviour of their fans.
Celtic and Rangers being fined for their fans behaviour has been an ongoing issue after their recent outings in European competition.
Celtic were given a £13,000 and sanctioned over the “blocking of public passageways” during the Champions League match against BSC Young Boys, while Rangers were fined for use of pyrotechnics earlier this season.
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