Martin O’Neill Demands Full Fan Tickets for Rangers vs Celtic Scottish Cup Clash
Martin O’Neill, the Celtic manager, is advocating for the club to receive the full ticket allocation for the upcoming Scottish Cup clash against Rangers. The highly anticipated quarter-final match is scheduled for the weekend of March 7-8 at Ibrox. Under Scottish Cup regulations, visiting teams are entitled to claim up to 20% of the total stadium capacity for away fans, which translates to approximately 10,000 tickets for Celtic supporters.
Ticket Allocation Details
The current allocation situation stems from historical tensions between the two clubs. In May 2018, Rangers reduced Celtic’s ticket allotment to fewer than 1,000, a significant decrease from the traditional capacity of around 7,500. This marked a change after years that saw visiting fans banned from the fixtures entirely.
Current Arrangements
The return of away fans last season allowed for around 5% of tickets to be made available, along with enhanced safety protocols, such as the use of safety nets. O’Neill expressed his belief that having full fan representation enhances the atmosphere of the match.
O’Neill’s Perspective on Fan Allocations
Commenting on the importance of fan presence, O’Neill stated, “As a Celtic supporter, I would want all the tickets we can get under the rules.” He acknowledged that limiting ticket allocations diminishes the experience of one of European football’s most celebrated fixtures.
Celtic’s Upcoming Fixtures
In light of the Scottish Cup draw, Celtic faces four consecutive away matches. The schedule includes:
- Livingston (H) – Scottish Premiership – Wednesday
- Kilmarnock (A) – Scottish Premiership – February 15
- Stuttgart (H) – Europa League – February 19
- Hibernian (H) – Scottish Premiership – February 22
- Stuttgart (A) – Europa League – February 26
- Rangers (A) – Scottish Premiership – March 1
- Aberdeen (A) – Scottish Premiership – March 4
- Rangers (A) – Scottish Cup – March 7
Concerns Over Scheduling
O’Neill also raised concerns regarding the tight scheduling of matches, particularly the away fixture against Aberdeen on March 4. He questioned the need for such logistical challenges, which could strain fan resources and attendance.
Player Updates
On the player front, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is in contention for the match against Livingston after completing his first training sessions. Similarly, Kieran Tierney is recovering from a potential concussion and a broken nose, expressing his desire to be available for future matches.
As Celtic prepares for this crucial period, O’Neill remains focused on maintaining squad morale and performance across all competitions.
