Celtic and Rangers have confirmed that away supporters will be barred from attending all Old Firm fixtures in both the Scottish Premiership and League Cup this season.
The decision represents a significant and controversial move that will reshape the atmosphere surrounding one of football’s most iconic and fiercely contested rivalries.
Both clubs have a long history of restricting away fans at Old Firm matches, but a full seasonal ban across multiple competitions marks a notable escalation of that policy.
The Scottish Premiership and League Cup fixtures between the two Glasgow giants typically rank among the most highly anticipated matches in the Scottish football calendar each year.
Away supporters have long been a contentious issue at Old Firm games, with crowd trouble and sectarian tensions historically influencing decisions made by both clubs and authorities.
Security concerns and stadium safety considerations are widely understood to be among the primary factors that clubs weigh when making decisions about away fan allocations for high-risk fixtures.
The ban will affect thousands of supporters who would otherwise have travelled across the city to back their side during what are always fiercely competitive and emotionally charged encounters.
For Rangers fans hoping to attend Celtic Park and for Celtic supporters planning trips to Ibrox, the ruling effectively removes any possibility of witnessing the derby in person as a visiting fan.
The policy applies across all Old Firm meetings in both the league and League Cup, meaning there will be no exceptions regardless of the stage or significance of any given match.
Scottish football fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how the atmosphere inside both stadiums is affected by the continued absence of travelling support throughout the season.
The Old Firm rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is recognised globally as one of the most intense derbies in world football, making any changes to matchday policy a matter of widespread interest.
Both clubs have yet to indicate whether the arrangement could be reviewed in future seasons, leaving supporters uncertain about the long-term prospects for away fan attendance at these fixtures.
