Celtic and Rangers will play without away supporters in their SPFL meetings for the remainder of the 2026/27 season.
The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) announced the decision after an independent review into disorder following the Scottish Cup clash in March.
The first affected fixture takes place at Ibrox on September 13. Rangers will host Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup. The rivals will then meet at Celtic Park on September 20 in the Scottish Premiership.
Previously, both clubs had agreed to provide around five per cent of their stadium capacity for away supporters.
However, the clubs reconsidered those arrangements after the March incidents. They have now agreed to remove away allocations for the rest of the season.
SPFL statement
The SPFL said the decision followed discussions with Celtic, Rangers and Police Scotland.
The league described the arrangement as temporary. It will give the clubs and other stakeholders time to study the independent review.
They will also work through its recommendations and plan future fixtures more carefully.
The SPFL said the decision should give supporters greater certainty. It should also make matchday planning easier.
Safety and security remain the main priorities.
The league will review the decision if circumstances change during the season. It will also consider arrangements for Celtic-Rangers matches ahead of the 2027/28 campaign.
The decision means both clubs will face each other without travelling supporters in their SPFL meetings this season.
Managers react
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill said the decision was disappointing from a supporter’s perspective.
He described the Old Firm fixture as one of the biggest matches in European football. O’Neill also suggested that Celtic and Rangers should work together to find a long-term solution.
“I think it’s really quite sad,” O’Neill told Sky Sports. He added that the absence of away fans would take something away from the fixture.
Rangers manager Derek McInnes also expressed his disappointment.
McInnes said supporters should normally have the chance to watch their team at away grounds. However, he accepted that the clubs had many issues to consider after the events surrounding the fixture.
The Rangers boss said the club would discuss the decision and its wider implications.
The two managers therefore share some disappointment over the ruling. However, both recognise the importance of safety around the Old Firm matches.
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