Banned ultras group urges Rangers to take up ticket allocation from Celtic

Celtic and Rangers fans invade the pitch at full time, following the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup quarter-final match at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow. Picture date: Sunday March 8, 2026.

Rangers have been urged to accept their ticket allocation from Celtic by the ultras group that has been banned from Parkhead.

Rangers initially rejected Celtic’s condition that the Union Bears are excluded from ticket distribution for next weekend’s crucial William Hill Premiership encounter at Celtic Park.

However, their complaint to the Scottish Professional Football League failed to overturn Celtic’s stance as a sub-committee refused to intervene in the champions’ safety and security measure.

The ticket allocation, of about 2,500, remains available to Rangers if they accept the condition and the Union Bears wants to ensure its fellow supporters are inside Celtic Park on May 10.

A statement from the group, which was posted on X, read: “The Union Bears strongly condemn the decision to ban the group from the upcoming Old Firm fixture.

“We believe this decision represents a direct attack on fan culture and sets a dangerous precedent, not only at Rangers, but across Scottish football as a whole.

“Following this ruling, we have been in dialogue with Rangers and have urged the club to accept the conditions required to ensure a full allocation, as it is essential that a fully unified Rangers support is present at the fixture.

“Now more than ever, it is vital that the Rangers support stands united.

“Yesterday’s decision reflects a fear from clubs and authorities, a fear of the positive impact of the Rangers support.

“We must ensure that unwavering backing for the team from the stands continues.” Celtic’s decision followed violent scenes after their recent Scottish Cup win at Ibrox, when more than 100 Rangers fans, many from the section housing the Union Bears, charged towards the Broomloan Stand after visiting supporters spilled on to the pitch to celebrate.

One of the subsequent arrests made was for an alleged assault on a Celtic member of staff and player.

An SPFL board sub-committee noted that the home club were responsible for safety and security and that the SFA-commissioned independent review into the scenes that followed the cup clash had not yet been completed, so concluded it would not intervene with Celtic’s measure.

PA