Rangers lodged a formal complaint with the Scottish Professional Football League after Celtic refused to release any tickets for the upcoming Old Firm derby unless the Ibrox club’s Union Bears ultras were barred. Rangers said they had “firmly rejected” Celtic’s demand and warned that removing away fans would create a “material sporting imbalance.” This move comes late in the season.

Rangers insisted that the club had been “clear in condemning the actions of certain individuals on 8 March” and that it had been working with Celtic to mitigate security concerns. Celtic, meanwhile, said it was ready to allocate full ticket allotments but requested that Rangers withhold seats for a section linked to recent violence involving Celtic staff, police and stewards.

The SPFL board has been asked to enforce the existing agreement and uphold competition integrity, while Celtic maintains that safety remains paramount. Rangers fear that denying away spectators would set a precedent with long‑term consequences for the league. The outcome will determine how Firm fixtures are managed and whether future derbies can avoid similar disputes in the Scottish game today.