Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has voiced his desire for Celtic to receive their full ticket allocation for the upcoming Scottish Cup match against Rangers at Ibrox. The quarter-final draw sets the stage for a traditional Old Firm atmosphere, with the potential for a full stand of Celtic supporters. Scottish Cup rules typically allow away clubs up to 20 percent of the tickets, translating to roughly 10,000 fans at Ibrox.

Historically, the allocation for Celtic fans at Ibrox has been a point of contention. The Broomloan Stand, which once housed approximately 7,500 Celtic supporters, saw its allocation slashed by Rangers to under 1,000 in May 2018. Before the recent introduction of away allocations of about five percent, there was a complete absence of fans at these fixtures. O'Neill emphasized the importance of a full allocation for the atmosphere.

The upcoming match is part of a challenging period for Celtic, with four consecutive away games scheduled. These include trips to Stuttgart and Aberdeen, sandwiching two games at Ibrox. O'Neill also expressed concerns about the scheduling of the rearranged Aberdeen fixture, suggesting it puts undue travel demands on the fans. Furthermore, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might feature in the Scottish Premiership match against Livingston.

In related news, Kieran Tierney could potentially play despite a suspected concussion and a possible broken nose. O'Neill's stance underscores the significance of the Old Firm rivalry and the impact of fan presence. The manager wants the full allocation for Celtic fans to create the best atmosphere possible for such a crucial contest in the Scottish Cup. The game is set for around the weekend of March 7-8.