Rangers demand Celtic ticket allocation in face of champions’ Ibrox snub as row takes new twist

Rangers will demand an allocation of 700 tickets for the derby at Parkhead in December – even though Celtic have rejected the offer of the same amount for the Ibrox clash in September.

Discussions between the security teams of both clubs are ongoing but Record Sport understands Celtic have knocked back the chance to have 700 of their fans at Ibrox because they fear the safety of their supporters – who would be wedged in a corner between the Broomloan and Govan Stands – cannot be guaranteed. The Parkhead club wants a return to the pre-2018 situation which saw them take the entire 7500-capacity Broomloan Stand and Rangers receiving the same amount of tickets at Celtic Park.

But with the Ibrox club having more than 45,000 season book holders, there’s no chance of that happening and their preference is 700 for each team. And it is believed they are insisting that having made the offer of 700 tickets to Celtic - irrespective of it being accepted - they should be given the opportunity to take the same number of fans to Parkhead for the New Year Old Firm derby and are keen to do so.

Rangers could complain to the SPFL if that offer is not forthcoming. Celtic are understood to have held talks with leading supporters’ groups, who are believed to be backing their stance.

Both sets of fans have claimed they’ve been pelted by missiles and forced to turn up hours before kick-off at the away venue since allocations were drastically reduced.

Rangers chief executive James Bisgrove, speaking in June, said: “The away allocation opportunity for next season is in the corner of the Govan West stand, which means the maximum we can do is 700-800. But that’s subject to what the rest of the stakeholders bring to that conversation and