Celtic Fans Face Ibrox Ticket Cut as Crucial League Cup Rule Changes Everything
Celtic took more than 8,000 supporters to Ibrox for last season’s Scottish Cup thriller, but different League Cup rules could dramatically reduce their allocation in September.
Phillip Cooney 
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 03: A general view of a Celtic fans banner during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park, on August 03, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic supporters face an anxious wait to discover their ticket allocation for the huge Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox.
Martin O’Neill’s side were drawn away to the Ibrox club, with the tie scheduled for the weekend of September 12/13.
Immediately, attention turned towards tickets.
Celtic received 8,042 tickets for last season’s dramatic Scottish Cup quarter-final at the same venue. However, supporters should not assume another full Broomloan Stand is coming.
There is one crucial difference.
Celtic ticket allocation governed by different rules
The enormous allocation in March resulted from Scottish Cup regulations rather than the normal derby arrangement.
Scottish Cup rules allowed the visiting club to request up to 20 per cent of the available tickets.
That provision helped Celtic receive more than 8,000 seats.
The Premier Sports Cup operates under different regulations.
There is no equivalent rule in the current League Cup regulations guaranteeing Celtic supporters 20 per cent of Ibrox.
In fact, there is no fixed percentage guaranteeing away supporters a particular allocation for a quarter-final.
That distinction could prove decisive.
For league derbies, Celtic and the Ibrox club have operated a reciprocal arrangement of around five per cent.
At Ibrox, an allocation in that region would mean roughly 2,500 Celtic supporters rather than the 8,042 who attended in March.
However, the league agreement does not automatically govern League Cup matches either.
Consequently, Celtic’s exact allocation remains to be determined.
Celtic ticket allocation complicated by March disorder
There is another major factor hanging over the decision.
Celtic’s previous visit with a large travelling support ended in serious disorder following their penalty-shootout victory.
An independent review subsequently examined the events after supporters entered the playing surface.
More than 100 home supporters moved towards the Celtic end in what the independent report described as “reactionary, confrontational, and overtly threatening” behaviour.
Pyrotechnics and other objects were also exchanged.
Both clubs subsequently faced Scottish FA disciplinary proceedings.
The Ibrox club then made its position on restoring historically large derby allocations perfectly clear.
“We have no plans to restore historic Old Firm allocations at Ibrox,” its statement said.
The club also claimed the 8,000-plus Celtic allocation had “materially changed the risk profile of the fixture.”
That statement makes another full Broomloan allocation appear highly unlikely.
Celtic supporters now await crucial decision
The Ibrox club has confirmed that ticketing information for the September quarter-final will be announced in due course.
Therefore, no definitive Celtic allocation has yet been confirmed.
What can be established is that Celtic are not automatically entitled to the 20 per cent allocation they received under Scottish Cup rules.
An allocation closer to the usual league figure of around 2,500 appears a more realistic possibility.
Even that figure cannot currently be presented as guaranteed.
Discussions between the clubs, SPFL and relevant safety authorities could determine the eventual number.
Security considerations following March’s disorder are also likely to form part of those discussions.
The distinction between the two competitions is therefore crucial.
More than 8,000 Celtic supporters watched O’Neill’s side eliminate their rivals on penalties last season.
Thousands fewer could be inside Ibrox when the sides meet again next month.
For Celtic supporters, the wait for the official allocation has now become almost as intriguing as the draw itself.
Thriller? We didn’t have a shot on goal.
Celtic fans should never have entered the field and the rangers fans also over reacted to it, my biggest concern on the day was the ticketless celtic fans breaking into ibrox stand that’s a more serious issue in my opinion I think the allocation should be cut but not drastically and we should bring in procedures that away fans can’t get within 100 yards of the stadium without producing a ticket as they do in some European games.
WTFK?
Does that same logic apply to Hampden v Hibs and Celtic, Falkrk,
awa tay fuck, The simple truth is your zombie mob do not like it ripped right up youse.
If I had my way. Celtic would not take a single ticket to Mordor no directors nothing! The same for THEM in return. Just the team and the coaching staff. As soon as the common hunnery most foul. started their vile songs about killing Catholics. The Celtic team should walk of the pitch and make protest top the league and government. The vile troglodytes have been allowed to get away with this pish for too long.
So it’s ok to push past stewards at turnstiles without tickets, I’m pretty sure that’s a criminal offence, breaking and entering and assault are serious offences but you think it’s acceptable get a grip.
I hope you get your way
The biggest concern on the day was police Scotland failure to manage the access and egress for away fans making it dangerous for Celtic fans. This coupled with the huns failure to control the crowd that allowed their thugs into the ground with weapons; weapons with weapons most would say, caused the problem as it always does. These Hun savages should not be allowed in any stadium. You Kenneth can make all the excuse you want for them but the loyalist thugs and police Scotland were responsible for turning that match into a potentially very dangerous situation for not just Celtic fans but their own.
So it’s ok to push past stewards at turnstiles without tickets, I’m pretty sure that’s a criminal offence, breaking and entering and assault are serious offences but you think it’s acceptable get a grip.
Loyalist thugs and I R A sympathisers.there are issues of this on both sides a small majority on both sides still living in the dark ages, I don’t think I have read in any of these posts condemning the actions of celtic supporters looks like celtic fans should change there title to THE BLUE EYED BHOYS.
Philip, you have said over 100?????? Are you being kind? There were hundreds of rangurs thugs on the pitch with one prearranged thing in mind and that was to hurt as many Celtic fans, players,staff etc. Where are the arrests of those thugs? The game should be played without fans as they have shown repeatedly at that club that they cannot control their ” fans”
Just do what they do in matches between Boca Juniors and River Plate and make matches between us and the Ibrox club home fans only. If there’s any disorder, whichever club is the home club for that game should have to play behind closed doors for the next 5 derbies at their ground.