Rangers have announced that they will accept their away allocation for the final Old Firm meeting of the season, but are “deeply disappointed” by the SPFL’s stance on the ticket row.
The Ibrox club had been locked in a bitter dispute with Celtic over ticket prices and allocations, which ultimately led to a high-profile court case. However, it appears that the SPFL has sided with Celtic, with Rangers feeling let down by the decision.
“We are disappointed, but not surprised, by the SPFL’s stance on this matter,” said a Rangers spokesperson. “The fact that they have backed our opponents in this dispute sets a concerning precedent for future ticket row disputes.
“The situation has been made even more complicated by the SPFL’s decision to allocate tickets based on historical data rather than current circumstances. We believe this approach is unfair and will have a disproportionate impact on smaller clubs like ourselves.”
Rangers had previously accused Celtic of price-gouging and using their financial muscle to secure more tickets, leading to widespread discontent among fans. However, the SPFL’s decision seems to have given Celtic a clear advantage in terms of ticket allocation.
“We understand that the SPFL has made its decision, but we cannot accept it,” said Rangers manager Steven Gerrard. “We believe this stance will undermine the integrity of the game and create an unfair advantage for one club over another.
“However, we have decided to honour our commitment to Celtic and accept our away allocation. We are confident that our fans will continue to support us, even in these difficult circumstances.”
The decision has been met with disappointment from Rangers supporters, who had been vocal in their criticism of the SPFL’s handling of the ticket row dispute.
“This is a huge blow for the club,” said one Rangers supporter. “We know that we have the best fans in Scotland, but it feels like the SPFL is turning its back on us.
“We will continue to support our team, even if it means that we can’t sell out Ibrox for the final game of the season. But it’s a hard pill to swallow, knowing that the SPFL has backed our opponents.”
The ticket row dispute has been ongoing for months, with tensions between Rangers and Celtic reaching a boiling point in recent weeks. The decision by the SPFL seems to have settled the matter, but it remains to be seen how this will impact the final Old Firm meeting of the season.
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