Mikael Lustig in passionate Celtic and Rangers plea as Parkhead icon 'scared' over world best fixture

Mikael Lustig is hoping the Old Firm reopen the doors to away fans as the support shutout is taking the shine off one of the world’s biggest showdowns.

The former Hoops hero is on of the last Parkhead players to perform in front of a packed away end at Ibrox. Lustig scored in a 5-1 rout in Govan in 2017 and was involved in the final clash involving Celtic supporters in a full Broomloan Stand when Brendan Rodgers’ 10 men came back to win 3-2 in 2018. Ibrox chiefs slashed the away allocation the following season from 7500 to around 800 and with both clubs citing safety concerns around the reduced capacities, the plug has been pulled on any travelling punters for the remaining league clashes at both venues this season.

Lustig is hoping the sides can see sense – and he’s convinced the one sided support is damaging the fixture as a spectacle. The Swede – who won 16 major honours in his eight years at Parkhead – said: “It’s probably one of the best fixtures in the world. Well, it was. So, for me, I just hope the away fans can come back. Because it makes that fixture really, really good – and all the people around the world are talking about that fixture. I’m a bit scared that, if you take away the away fans, the fixture isn’t going to be as massive. I’m not sure whose decision it was – but hopefully we can have them back.”

Lustig was back in Glasgow at the weekend promoting his evening with Scott Brown at the Hydro on May 18 and he admitted he relished going to Ibrox when there was a bumper Celtic section. The recently retired defender – who also ended up with a policeman’s hat on when celebrating an Old Firm win – said: “My goal at Ibrox was obviously one of my favourite moments. To play there and beat them 5-1, and to score