Celtic supporters have expressed deep frustration over the club's approach to the away fan ban for matches against Rangers this season. The decision, which follows the controversial 'shame game' at Ibrox, has sparked a fierce debate among the fanbase, as reported by the Daily Record Football.
Celtic currently sits first in the Premiership with a perfect record of 12 points from four wins, scoring 11 goals and conceding just two. They hold a two-point lead over St Mirren as they prepare for their next fixture at home to Motherwell on December 26th. The squad is dealing with several key absences, including Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Jota, Kasper Høgh, and Kieran Tierney, as detailed on the club's injuries page.
Why are Celtic fans so angry about the ban?
The anger stems from a belief that Celtic's board mishandled the situation. Liam Lynch, a Celtic diehard from Islington, said, "I am Celtic diehard and I don't think I have rued the club more than I have following this fresh fan ban." He argues the club loves the perception of nous but screwed up majorly. Lynch claims the ticket issue traces back to Rangers' reaction after Celtic won the league with ten men in 2018. He believes true strength would have been to keep giving Rangers their full allocation, forcing them into a humiliating reverse and making them a global figure of fun. Instead, he sees the current standoff as a bust and a crying shame.
Who should be held accountable for the 'shame game'?
Other fans question where the responsibility lies for the incident that sparked the ban. David Beattie from Rothesay asked, "What responsibility are the police taking for the shame game at Ibrox? It seems it's the clubs and the decent fans will suffer." He points out that fixtures at Ibrox with a full Celtic allocation passed for decades without major trouble. Beattie claims the specific game was totally mismanaged and that ordinary, well-behaved fans are now taking the brunt of a ban that will remove the unique atmosphere of the derby. He calls for Police Scotland to take more accountability, stating the situation was easily avoidable.
What other fan issues were raised on the Hotline?
The fan ban discussion prompted wider questions. Kieran Brown from Paisley inquired if Rangers' fan ban from Celtic Park would extend to major non-football events like Oasis concerts. Meanwhile, criticism of Rangers' transfer activity also surfaced. Bobby Mullin compared their player trading to a schoolboy swapping a Lionel Messi card for a Kairat Almaty player. He argued players like Fernandez, Raskin, and Chermiti should have been sold, leaving Rangers with a bloated squad that is a hindrance without European football.
Discussions also turned to other Scottish clubs. Eddie Smith from Gorgie praised Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken as sensational, noting the team's strong performances despite early excuses to be a mess. He described a sizzling first half at Easter Road where Hearts looked like a top European side. Smith also highlighted Calvin Miller as magic and questioned the handling of Scottish talent like James McPake, who has found his way again after being discarded. Celtic's focus remains on maintaining their league position, with fans able to track the standings as the season progresses. Their next challenge is a home match against fourth-placed Motherwell on Boxing Day.
