The chaos surrounding the Old Firm rivalry may have finally pushed things too far.
After the violent scenes at Ibrox earlier this season, Police Scotland delivered a warning that both Celtic F.C. and Rangers F.C. supporters cannot ignore.
Police officials reportedly stated that the current setup involving large away crowds inside Old Firm stadiums is “not sustainable” and raises serious safety concerns. That statement came after multiple incidents during the March clash at Ibrox, where tensions completely exploded between supporters.
The warning became even more serious after the Union Bears were banned from attending the May 10 Old Firm match. The SPFL refused to overturn Celtic’s decision, leading to massive backlash from Rangers supporters and football pundits. Former Rangers striker Ally McCoist reportedly called the situation a “disgrace” and an “absolute shambles.”
But behind all the arguments, the biggest message from police was clear: the current system is no longer working.
Reports from the March derby revealed shocking incidents around the stadium and inside the ground. A steward was carried away on a stretcher, a child was reportedly struck by a coin, and a police officer was allegedly kicked to the ground during the disorder. Several arrests were also made as tensions spiraled out of control.
Now many fans believe this could permanently change the future of Old Firm away allocations.
Rangers were still given around 2,500 tickets for the latest derby, but if police continue insisting that those numbers are unsafe, future away allocations could be drastically reduced. Some supporters are already fearing that future Old Firm matches may only allow a few hundred away fans — or possibly none at all.
For decades, massive away crowds have been part of what made the Old Firm atmosphere one of the most intense spectacles in world football. But after repeated crowd trouble, safety concerns, and rising hostility, Scottish football authorities may now feel forced to completely rethink the tradition.
The Union Bears ban may not have been just a punishment for one game.
It may have been the beginning of a completely new era for the Old Firm rivalry.
