Ibrox fans are dreading the announcement of the ticket allocation for their Scottish Cup tie against Celtic.
When the draw was made sending Celtic across the city the initial reaction was one of euphoria. The battle fever was flowing.
Within an hour or two of the draw being made the reality started to sink in.
This is a Scottish Cup tie, arranged with the SFA.
As every fan knows the away club is entitled to 20% of the match tickets.
THE GREAT IBROX FEAR
With a capacity of 50,987 Celtic are entitled to 10,197 tickets.
More than the full Broomloan Road Stand. That’s the rules.
Soon after the draw was made Police Scotland delivered some unwelcome news for anxious bears.
Ticketing was a matter for the clubs, once they come to an agreement the Police will then get involved.
The Broomloan Road Stand full of Celtic supporters is the worst nightmare for Ibrox fans. It comes with horrific memories.
Not just the fans, gloating, chanting and singing.
A full Free Broomloan brings back memories of Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard. Of Scott Sinclair, Leigh Griffiths tying scarves to goalposts, blowing his nose on the club flag. Tom Rogic popping them in from 20 yards, Hugh Burns screaming ‘whits the goalie dain Tom’.
Four visits from Celtic between December 2016 and April 2018 left the biggest of bears scarred for life.
And now not only are they looking at a full Broomloan Road Stand but an extra 3,000 tickets on top of that!
Dan isn’t a common name for bears but his Jock Wallace avatar says it all.
A throwback to when the team sheet was rammed with Real Rangers Men.
When the players knew every word of the songs and led the singing when the visited Supporters Clubs.
Back then Celtic fans were given a full terrace, half the Enclosure and part of the Main Stand. Wallace wasn’t concerned about songs, opposing fans laughing or being seen on television occupying behind the goal.
BOARD ROOM TICKET GAMES
The leaders of both clubs are dreading how the ticket issue is going to be played out.
Since they started playing at games in 2018 it has become a lose lose situation for both clubs.
If Celtic get less than 10,000 tickets Michael Nicholson will have sold the jerseys. The cowardly CEO, the world’s worst negotiator, the man that took four years to pluck up the courage to speak to Gerry McCulloch.
If Celtic get more than 2,000 tickets, the European allocation the bears will be raging at their American owner. There is no CEO in place at Ibrox.
As well as the split in tickets the pricing has to be agreed. On that both boards are united as they attempt to extract every spare penny out of their customers.
For the SPFL match on March 1 Celtic fans are being charged £56 for a ticket with Nicholson adding a£1.50 for good measure.
Generally cup tie tickets are cheaper than ordinary SPFL matches. This cup tie could well be priced at £50 which would give each club £1m to console themselves against the fall out of angry customers.
WHY THE DELAY?
The draw was made on February 8, the match will be played on March 8. A week after a pivotal SPFL match. Time is cracking on.
With each passing day without an announcement it is clear that the clubs can’t decide on allocations and pricing.
Whatever decision is taken it seems certain that Ibrox Season Ticket holders will be displaced, some might miss out on a ticket altogether.
Season Ticket holders that have signed up onto the Continuous Credit Card Scheme could miss out. Watching on telly with Celtic fans in their favourite seats.
It’s a shame, isn’t it?
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