'They cannot hide behind...' - Simon Jordan tells SPFL to solve Rangers issue after news y'day

Simon Jordan has urged the SPFL to step into the row regarding Old Firm away ticket allocations between Rangers and Celtic.

Speaking live on talkSPORT with Jim White [15 August], Jordan argued that the SPFL must lay down regulations to punish the clubs over the lockout of away fans if stadiums pass safety certification with the police.

Rangers released an official club statement on Wednesday [14 August] confirming Celtic had gone back on a prior agreement and will not let Gers supporters into Parkhead for the upcoming Old Firm derby on 1 September; there will now no longer be an allocation for Celtic fans in the reciprocal game at Ibrox on 2 January 2025.

Jordan argued on the matter: “If Celtic were to take the magnanimous step of saying they don’t care what fans will do and will allow Rangers fans in, then there’d be outrage from the vociferous minority of people who don’t like it, it’ll all become a volume argument and people will back down.

“It’s upon the SPFL, they cannot hide behind safety certification, there is no reason why a ground cannot be certified by the police, if they lay down the prerequisite requirements. If they lay them down and they’re clear then a football club has a choice if they adhere to it or not.

“If they choose not to adhere to it then they should be sanctioned under the league rules and see how they get on with that. It’s simple, it’s not difficult.”

Old Firm lockout leaves Rangers fans raging

In arguably the UK’s most ferocious and historic derby, the fans are yet again being those left out in the cold.

With arrangements having been made by Rangers supporters for the upcoming clash at Parkhead in little over two weeks’ time, Celtic have U-turned on the initial plan to offer an allocation of 2,500 – more generous than previous allocations which had dwindled in recent years before the total ban on away fans for Old Firm clashes.

Rangers have been quick to reciprocate that side of the deal and will not allocate any Celtic away tickets at Ibrox at the turn of the year, and whilst it can be understood, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of what Jordan points out to be the majority of supporters.

Leaving the decision on repercussions squarely down to the SPFL would at least then provide some transparency as to where clubs stand, and how they can be punished accordingly should they not follow the safety certifications of the police for each venue.

The safety green light from the police should be enough for the SPFL – they should not be bowing to their two most powerful member clubs in this scenario – it is ultimately tarnishing a globally-renowned derby and almost conceding to the outdated controversies of its past.

In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd has given an alternative reason for why the Gers were knocked out of the Champions League this week.

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