The Scottish Premiership season is underway, and fans will not have long to wait for the first meeting of archrivals Celtic and Rangers.
Last season saw a tense title battle between the pair rage on until the season's final weeks, while Celtic would also snatch victory over their local rivals in the dying seconds of the Scottish Cup final.
Celtic announced on Wednesday that Adam Idah, the scorer of that cup final winner, has signed with the club on a permanent basis for the upcoming season. The Irishman can look forward to a massive game early next month, as Celtic host Rangers at Parkhead on September 1.
However, there will once again be no away fans in attendance when the first Old Firm of the season takes place. Reports in Scotland suggest that it is down to a major shortcoming on Rangers' side.
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Celtic v Rangers: Away fans to be absent once again from Old Firm
The past few seasons have seen Old Firm games take place without away fans, due to a major dispute between Celtic and Rangers over ticket allocations.
The feud began in 2021 when Rangers withdrew the meagre allocation of 700 they had offered to Celtic supporters for the derby at Ibrox, after the Hoops failed to give assurances that the 'Gers would be given the same allocation for the return fixture.
It appeared as though a middle ground had been found for the upcoming season, with an announcement in March that the two clubs had settled on protocols which would allow away fans to attend the fixture once again. As many as 2,500 Rangers fans were expected in Celtic Park on September 1.
However, Rangers confirmed on Wednesday that they had been informed by their bitter rivals that no allocation would be made available for the game in a fortnight's time.
Scottish publication The Daily Record reported shortly thereafter that the reversal of the agreement was down to a shortcoming by Rangers in preparation for January's return fixture.
According to the report, the agreement hinged on appropriate safety measures being put in place for the Old Firm games, with Celtic receiving planning permission to erect nets in the away end. However, Rangers were reportedly unable to guarantee that similar measures would be in place for the derby at Ibrox, causing Celtic to withdraw from the agreement.
For their part, Rangers said in a statement on Wednesday:
The allocation to be implemented by both clubs was clear and Rangers was taking all steps towards fulfilling that agreement.
In the meantime, we can confirm that no away allocation will apply for the January Old Firm fixture at Ibrox. This is consistent with the reciprocity embedded in the agreement reached between the clubs and the SPFL.
The saga rages on, and there will be no away fans for either the Celtic Park or Ibrox Old Firm openers this season.
Though there could well be a fresh agreement by the time the sides face each other twice more in the latter half of the season, the prospect of such an understanding coming into place feels slim at this point.
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