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Ciaran Morrison

Sat 9 May 2026 7:45, UK

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Rangers won’t concede that Celtic have done the right thing by banning the Union Bears from this weekend’s Old Firm derby.

That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, on the latest row between the two Glasgow rivals.

An SPFL subcommittee said it would not overrule Celtic’s stance to not hand out any tickets to the Union Bears, with Rangers disappointed at their actions and reluctantly accepting their away allocation for the game.

It comes after the last meeting between the two teams at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup ended with ugly scenes, with sets of both fans clashing on the pitch.

Celtic beat Rangers on penalties following a 0-0 draw, and Danny Rohl’s side will be looking for revenge to end the Hoop’s title challenge.

Rangers told to set Old Firm differences aside

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 – said he backs Celtic’s stance on banning the Union Bears.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness says that Celtic’s Green Brigade should also not be in attendance in future derby games.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I would back Celtic’s stance on this.

“I just wish Rangers, although they might actually believe it’s the right thing to do and probably would like to do it, won’t do it because Celtic suggested it. That’s the unfortunate situation that we’re in, in Scotland.

“We’ve got a spineless SPFL who won’t back what is the right thing to do. So I’ve been very clear on this and that’s where my view is.

“These two groups [Union Bears and Green Brigade], certainly for away games, certainly should have no allocation.”

Rangers set to lose midfielder on a free

Rangers are set to see Bailey Rice leave the club at the end of the season, with his contract expiring in the summer, even though the Gers do not want to lose the 19-year-old.

The midfielder is not expected to sign an extension to remain at Ibrox, with former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown telling Football Insider that Premier League clubs have been monitoring Rice ahead of the summer window.

Aston Villa are among the Premier League sides who have expressed interest in Rice, who has only started one Scottish Premiership game this season.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.