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NEW DERBY ALLOCATIONS ARE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

The great allocation debate has been something that has been raging on over the last few years, with some passionately getting involved in debates and pointing fingers whilst others are just desperate for everything to blow over and get back to normal once again.


Recent announcements indicate that we could be finally making some strides in a positive trajectory with the allocations for both teams being boosted by 5% for next season.


This announcement will be greatly welcomed by both sets of supporters, with the allocation to-in and fro-ing finally coming to something of a resolution.


One of the key figures who has been left absolutely delighted by the agreement that both clubs have been able to come to is Brendan Rodgers, with the manager stating "It's huge and it's something this club have been championing for a number of years. Given the iconic nature of the fixture it deserves for both sets of supporters to be in.


"There are two sets of people who have missed out, the players in terms of the game and the atmosphere that's created and then very importantly the supporters because they are what makes this fixture.




"It's absolutely brilliant news and it's great for the game and Scottish football as a whole that we can produce a game that has that passion and with both sets of supporters there we'll look forward to that when it comes."


One of the main selling points of the derby is the real spectacle of the fixtures, with passion, intensity and electricity coming from the terraces and resonating with the players on the park, sometimes providing a real driving force that can spur a team onto victory.


Both meetings between Celtic and Rangers heading into the end of the league season will be played with no away supporters in attendance.


Safety of supporters had been a big issue outlined by Celtic, with supporters and club staff being targeted with missiles on previous trips to Ibrox, and thus the club rejected taking any away fans for the trip to Ibrox due to safety concerns.


Rangers will not have any away supporters for the trip to Celtic Park at the end of the season, meaning away supporters will have been absent for every fixture between both clubs in the cinch Premiership this season.





The new allocations see 3,000 Rangers fans making up the 5% allocation at Parkhead, whilst 2,500 Celtic fans will be housed at Ibrox filling the club's 5% allocation.


The initial cut to allocations came in 2018, when Rangers cut Celtic's allocation at Ibrox due to a greater demand for season tickets, something the majority of Celtic supporters simply attribute to Celtic coming out on top at Ibrox with a crowd of fans there on one too many occasions.


The common allocation that was dealt to both clubs since that initial cut has been 750, but in recent fixtures that number has been cut to zero supporters.


Whilst it isn't a return to the full allocation that most supporters were looking for, it is a step in the right direction to getting closer to a bit more normality.


James McKenzie // @JamesWHMcKenzie

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