SPFL imposes ban on away fans for Celtic and Rangers derbies following a decisive meeting.

The SPFL has confirmed a major change to the way Celtic and Rangers matches will be staged this season, with away supporters banned from attending every Old Firm fixture organised under the league’s authority during the 2026/27 campaign.

The decision follows the serious disorder that erupted after the Scottish Cup semi-final between the two Glasgow giants at Ibrox in March. Both clubs were subsequently punished after supporters from Celtic and Rangers entered the pitch following Celtic’s penalty shootout victory, with the celebrations quickly descending into violent and chaotic scenes.

Police block fans getting onto the pitch after the Scottish Cup tie between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox.(Image: SNS Group)

The incidents caused widespread embarrassment for Scottish football and prompted a formal review into what happened. Both clubs were later found guilty at a disciplinary hearing and handed significant sanctions because of the behaviour surrounding the fixture.

As part of those punishments, Celtic and Rangers were each ordered to stage their next Scottish Cup home match without supporters. They were also instructed to compensate the opposing club with £100,000 to help cover the financial losses caused by the reduction in attendance.

The latest SPFL decision means the consequences of the March disorder will now extend beyond the Scottish Cup and affect the clubs’ league and domestic cup meetings throughout the current season.

Rangers had originally planned to provide Celtic with only 700 tickets for the upcoming Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox on September 13. That proposal represented a significant reduction from the traditional arrangement between the clubs and immediately became a point of disagreement.

Celtic did not accept the reduced allocation and asked the SPFL to intervene and determine how the ticketing arrangements should be handled. Following discussions involving representatives from both clubs, the league has now reached an agreement that removes away supporters altogether for the remainder of the season.

As a result, Celtic supporters will not be present inside Ibrox when their team faces Rangers in the League Cup quarter-final on September 13. The situation will be repeated just one week later, when Rangers travel to Celtic Park for a Premiership fixture on September 20. Rangers supporters will also be prevented from attending that match.

The new arrangement applies to SPFL competitions and covers all remaining fixtures between the two clubs during the 2026/27 season. It effectively removes the traditional allocation of visiting supporters from one of football’s most famous rivalries.

Previously, Celtic and Rangers had agreed that away fans would normally receive five per cent of the available capacity at either stadium when the clubs met in SPFL competitions. That agreement has now been suspended following the review into the events at Ibrox.

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Hampden Park

The SPFL explained that the decision was made after considering the findings of an independent investigation conducted by the Scottish FA. Discussions also involved Police Scotland, as the authorities considered the security implications surrounding future meetings between the clubs.

The league said Rangers had proposed a smaller away allocation for the September League Cup fixture because of its assessment of the potential circumstances and risks associated with the match. Celtic rejected that proposal and instead requested a formal decision from the SPFL.

Further talks eventually produced a compromise that goes considerably further than Rangers’ original proposal. Rather than simply reducing the number of visiting supporters, the agreement means there will be no away fans at Celtic-Rangers matches in SPFL competitions for the rest of the campaign.

The SPFL says the measure is temporary and is intended to give everyone involved enough time to study the independent review and implement its recommendations properly. Celtic, Rangers, the league, Police Scotland and other relevant organisations will now have additional time to consider how future Old Firm fixtures can be organised more safely.

The authorities also believe the decision will provide greater certainty for supporters. Instead of repeatedly changing ticket allocations before individual matches, clubs and fans will know in advance that visiting supporters will not be accommodated for these fixtures this season.

That certainty is also expected to assist with matchday planning. Security teams, police officers, stadium staff and both clubs will have a clearer understanding of the arrangements well before each match takes place.

Safety and security have been identified as the main priority behind the temporary restrictions. The SPFL believes removing away supporters can reduce some of the risks associated with the highly charged rivalry while the recommendations from the independent review are considered and acted upon.

However, the league has not closed the door on changing the decision before the end of the season. The arrangement will remain subject to review if circumstances materially change during the campaign.

That means the current policy could potentially be reconsidered if the clubs and authorities make sufficient progress on the issues highlighted by the independent review. For now, though, the no-away-fans policy remains the agreed position.

The SPFL has also indicated that the arrangements for meetings between Celtic and Rangers beyond the current season will be examined well ahead of the beginning of the 2027/28 campaign. Therefore, the long-term future of away support at Old Firm fixtures remains undecided.

Both clubs have committed to working with the SPFL and Police Scotland during the temporary period. The intention is to use the time available to address the problems identified following the Ibrox incident and establish stronger procedures for future matches.

The decision is certain to generate a major reaction among supporters of both Celtic and Rangers. Away fans have traditionally been an important part of the atmosphere surrounding Old Firm matches, and removing them represents a significant change to one of Scottish football’s biggest occasions.

For Celtic, the immediate consequence is that their supporters will miss the trip to Ibrox for the September 13 League Cup quarter-final. For Rangers, their fans will be absent from Celtic Park when the clubs meet in the Premiership only seven days later.

The decision also ends uncertainty surrounding the number of tickets each club would receive. Rangers had been preparing to offer Celtic just 700 tickets at Ibrox, while Celtic had challenged that arrangement through the SPFL. The new agreement eliminates the need for individual negotiations over away allocations for the rest of the season.

Ultimately, the SPFL has chosen a more drastic solution after the events of March forced Scottish football authorities to reassess how Old Firm matches are managed. Rather than allowing limited numbers of visiting supporters, the league has opted for a complete temporary ban in SPFL fixtures.

The measure is designed to give Celtic, Rangers, the SPFL, Police Scotland and other stakeholders time to implement lessons from the independent review and improve safety procedures.

Whether the restrictions will prevent further disorder remains to be seen, but the impact on supporters is immediate. For the rest of the 2026/27 campaign, Old Firm matches will be played without travelling supporters, creating a very different atmosphere around the rivalry while the authorities work towards a longer-term solution.