Celtic accept Rangers tickets despite calls to 'stuff' allocation for Ibrox clash

Celtic have accepted the ticket allocation offered to them by Rangers for next weekend’s Old Firm match at Ibrox despite calls for them to hand them back.

Rangers reportedly set aside 700 tickets for Celtic fans for the Sunday, April 3 clash, in a move which marks a return of away fans at the derby fixture after the two previous meetings at Ibrox and Celtic Park this season took place in front of home supporters only.

Some Celtic fans had called on the club to reject the offer with former Hoops striker John Hartson urging the club to “stuff the 700 tickets” saying the allocation should be “10,000 plus or nothing” in reference to the decision taken by Rangers in 2018 to reduce Celtic’s away allocation.

Eyebrows have also been raised at the £52 ticket price – around £20 more expensive than is normally charged for away fans at Ibrox.

Celtic fans will return to Ibrox for the April 3 showdown with Rangers after the club accepted the ticket allocation on offer. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

However, Celtic have now confirmed that their fans will be in attendance at Ibrox with the club stating that those fans who missed out on the postponed match in March 2020 following the Covid outbreak will be first in line.

A club statement read: “Tickets for away match v. Rangers are now on sale to eligible STH. Tickets have been allocated to those STH who were originally offered tickets for the match v. Rangers on 15th March 2020 which was cancelled.”

It is now anticipated that Celtic will now offer a similar number of ticket to Rangers for away fans to attend the final Old Firm clash of the season at Parkhead following the Premiership split.

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