Editing Old Firm (section)

===Visitor allocation, crushing incident===
[[File:Janefield Street - geograph.org.uk - 496860.jpg|thumb|left|The tunnel behind the North Stand at [[Celtic Park]], through which supporters were directed from either end of the stadium in the 2018 incident]]
During the 2018 close season, Rangers announced that they would be cutting the ticket allocation for Celtic fans at Ibrox from around 7,000 (the entire Broomloan Stand) to 800, situated in a corner where smaller travelling supports were usually accommodated, following a fan survey backing the proposal as well as an upturn in season ticket sales. In response, Celtic indicated they would do likewise, bringing to an end a long tradition of both clubs offering a generous proportion of their stadium to their rivals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/rangers-cut-celtic-ticket-allocation-to-800-1-4744615 |title=Rangers cut Celtic ticket allocation to 800 |work=The Scotsman |date=24 May 2018 |access-date=26 May 2018 |archive-date=24 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524231757/https://www.scotsman.com/news/rangers-cut-celtic-ticket-allocation-to-800-1-4744615 |url-status=live }}</ref> The development was criticised by former players as diluting the famous atmosphere of the fixtures,<ref name=donnelly>{{cite web |url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/16251770.Former_Celtic_striker_Simon_Donnelly__it_s_not_the_fans_that_make_the_difference_but_the_quality_of_the_players/ |title=Former Celtic striker Simon Donnelly: it's not the fans that make the difference but the quality of the players |work=Evening Times |date=26 May 2018 |access-date=26 May 2018 |archive-date=26 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526191112/http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/16251770.Former_Celtic_striker_Simon_Donnelly__it_s_not_the_fans_that_make_the_difference_but_the_quality_of_the_players/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-board-put-scottish-football-12598671 | title=Rangers board have put Scottish football back years with farcical Celtic ticket decision – Chris Sutton | work=Daily Record | date=26 May 2018 | access-date=26 May 2018 | archive-date=27 May 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527023834/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-board-put-scottish-football-12598671 | url-status=live }}</ref> although others praised the extra income the change would likely generate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-decision-cut-celtics-ticket-12597588 |title=Rangers decision to cut Celtic's ticket allocation was justified as it will generate money for Steven Gerrard – Barry Ferguson |work=Daily Record |date=26 May 2018 |access-date=26 May 2018 |archive-date=27 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527120651/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-decision-cut-celtics-ticket-12597588 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the first fixture at Celtic Park under the new arrangements, a combination of a larger home support, the need to retain segregation for the smaller away support and general unfamiliarity with the new arrangements led to an incident of [[Crowd crush|crushing]] in the enclosed walkway behind the North Stand before kick off as supporters were directed to use the route to reach both of the end stands; several people scaled a high perimeter wall and fence to escape, and medical attention was required for five fans. Those involved expressed their anger afterwards regarding the arrangements and policing, with Celtic issuing an official apology.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45396058 |title=Celtic apologise to fans after crush incident before Old Firm game |work=[[BBC News]] |date=3 September 2018 |access-date=6 September 2018 |archive-date=6 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906061829/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45396058 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/celtic-fans-demand-probe-terrifying-13183745 |title=Celtic fans demand probe into terrifying crush before Rangers game to ensure it never happens again |work=Daily Record |date=3 September 2018 |access-date=6 September 2018 |archive-date=6 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906161745/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/celtic-fans-demand-probe-terrifying-13183745 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/16686313.celtic-park-crush-dad-takes-traumatised-son-15-to-hospital/ |title=Celtic Park 'crush': Dad takes traumatised son, 15, to hospital |work=Evening Times |date=4 September 2018 |access-date=6 September 2018 |archive-date=5 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905213917/http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/16686313.celtic-park-crush-dad-takes-traumatised-son-15-to-hospital/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Towards the end of the 2022–23 season, a dispute between the clubs over ticketing and supporter safety issues led to there being no away fans at all for the last two league fixtures, which was also the case throughout 2023–24<ref>[https://news.stv.tv/sport/celtic-formally-refuse-ibrox-ticket-allocation-for-next-old-firm-derby-with-rangers Celtic formally refuse Ibrox ticket allocation for next Old Firm derby], Andy Coyle, ''STV News, 17 August 2023</ref> and, despite an agreement being reached in March 2024 to end the stalemate and allow a 5% (~2,500) visiting allocation at each stadium,<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68692167 Old Firm derby: Rangers and Celtic agree away ticket allocations from next season], ''BBC Sport'', 29 March 2024</ref> continued into 2024–25 (the prolongation was blamed by Celtic on the unpredictability of renovations at Ibrox which caused some matches to be played at Hampden and others with reduced capacity, although it was highly likely the work would have been finished by the relevant date of 2 January 2025).<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/aug/16/celtic-rodgers-accuses-rangers-over-away-fan-shutout ‘Nothing to do with Celtic’: Rodgers puts blame on Rangers for away fans shutout], ''The Guardian'', 16 August 2024</ref>