Supporters of Celtic and Rangers will not be permitted to travel to away fixtures between the two clubs in the Scottish Premiership and Premier Sports Cup this season, following an agreement reached between the Glasgow rivals and the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL).
The decision, described as a "temporary arrangement," comes in the wake of an independent review commissioned by the Scottish FA into the chaotic scenes at last season's Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox. That review found that supporters narrowly avoided "crushing" and "life-threatening violence" after Rangers fans invaded the pitch to confront Celtic supporters who had already spilled onto the field in celebration following a penalty shootout victory.
Approximately 8,000 away fans were present for that fixture in March, a significantly higher number than is typical for league meetings between the sides due to differing ticketing arrangements for the Scottish Cup. In response to the unrest, the Scottish FA had already ordered both clubs to play their next Scottish Cup home matches without spectators.
The latest measure was triggered after Rangers proposed cutting the away allocation to 300 for their upcoming Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Celtic at Ibrox on 13 September. Celtic rejected that offer, prompting further talks that resulted in the blanket ban covering all SPFL competition matches between the two sides for the remainder of the season. The teams are also set to meet in the league at Celtic Park on 20 September.
In a joint statement, the SPFL explained the rationale behind the move: "This temporary arrangement will allow both clubs, together with the SPFL, Police Scotland and other relevant stakeholders, to give proper consideration to the findings and recommendations of the independent review, take forward the necessary actions and ensure sufficient time is available to plan future fixtures thoroughly."
The statement continued: "It will also provide greater certainty for supporters and those involved in matchday planning, while avoiding repeated uncertainty around ticketing arrangements for individual fixtures. All parties have committed to working constructively during this period, with safety and security remaining the priority."
The SPFL added that the arrangement remains "subject to review" and could be revisited should circumstances change during the campaign.
The policy marks a reversal from an agreement reached for the 2025-26 season, under which away fans were entitled to roughly 5% of stadium capacity — between 2,500 and 3,000 supporters — for league fixtures. That deal had followed years of fluctuating allocations, which at various points dropped as low as zero amid tit-for-tat disputes between the clubs.
Reaction from the two managers reflected differing tones. Rangers boss Derek McInnes called the news "disappointing," noting that fixtures benefit from the presence of opposition supporters. "It's always better when opposition fans are allowed into a derby game," he said, adding that he had believed the matter was still open for discussion. "As far as I was led to believe, that was still up for discussion, so it's kind of caught me on the hop a wee bit."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill struck a more resigned note, describing the ban as "inevitable" and "really sad." He praised the unique atmosphere the fixture generates when both sets of fans are present, saying: "It's a great, great fixture when the ground is absolutely full. And I think the away fans make this." O'Neill expressed hope that the two clubs could eventually resolve their differences, adding: "Hopefully the two clubs will maybe get together at some stage or another and try to iron out the particular problems."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport and The Independent.