SPFL SENDS A STRONG WARNING TO ENTIRE RANGERS FANS AHEAD OF OLD FIRM DERBY AS NEW RULES EMERGES

In what has become one of the most highly scrutinised fixtures on the Scottish football calendar, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has issued a stern warning to Rangers supporters ahead of tomorrow’s Old Firm derby against Celtic. This caution comes as freshly implemented matchday rules, designed to curb disorderly conduct and enhance safety, take effect amid ongoing concerns from clubs, policing authorities, and league officials about fan behaviour at one of British football’s most intense rivalries.

The announcement marks another chapter in a series of escalated efforts by Scottish football authorities to restore order at fixtures that have historically attracted not just passionate support but high levels of scrutiny over pyrotechnics, crowd control, and sectarian tensions.

What the SPFL Warning Means

While the SPFL has not published the exact full text of its warning in every media outlet, multiple credible reports and the matchday guidance agreed between Rangers, Celtic, and Police Scotland provide a clear indication of the new expectations being communicated to supporters:

1. Strict Entry and Escort Procedures

Away supporters attending the match at Celtic Park — in this case Rangers fans — have been asked to adhere to rigorous arrival and entry protocols agreed by both clubs and Police Scotland. Rangers supporters with tickets have been instructed to arrive up to two hours before kick-off, gather at a designated meeting point (the Emirates Arena), and then walk in a police-escorted group across to the Parkhead stadium. Turnstiles will open early for this purpose and late arrivals risk missing kick-off as they may be held for safety reasons. 

This framework is part of a broader attempt to manage crowd flow and reduce the type of high-risk interactions that can occur when large numbers of rival fans converge on city streets and transport nodes. The SPFL and law enforcement agencies have clearly signalled that compliance with these procedures isn’t optional — and failing to do so could jeopardise both personal entry and future allocations for supporters.

2. Heightened Emphasis on Pyrotechnics and Misconduct

The warning also heavily underscored the **zero-tolerance approach to pyrotechnics — flares, smoke bombs, and similar devices — inside or near the stadium precinct. Rangers supporters have been reminded that bringing pyrotechnics is illegal and carries risk of arrest, immediate ejection, and club sanctions, including potential reductions in future away ticket allocations. 

This is no idle threat: the SPFL and clubs across Scotland have been grappling with pyrotechnic misuse for years, leading to sanctions such as ticket allocation cuts when supporter conduct breaches accepted safety standards. In fact, both Celtic and Rangers have faced enforced reductions in ticket numbers in cup competitions due to pyro-related incidents in recent seasons. 

3. Broader League Crackdown on Dangerous Behaviour

The league’s latest warning fits into an ongoing, more structured campaign to tighten the climate around fan conduct:

• Missiles and thrown objects: These continue to be a concern at high-profile matches. Fans throwing objects onto the pitch or towards opposing supporters and officials have faced severe rebukes, investigations, and potential club penalties.  
• Sectarian and abusive behaviour: Police in Scotland have investigated threatening messages and abuse connected to Old Firm matches, including concerning incidents involving match officials. These investigations have drawn broader warnings about intimidation and harassment.  
• Safety certificates and licensing: Security experts have previously warned that if clubs fail to manage pyrotechnics and dangerous behaviour, they not only risk league sanctions but also threats to safety certification of stadiums.  

While not every measure is brand new, their consolidation ahead of this particular derby underscores how seriously football authorities are taking the fixture’s risk profile and the need to balance fan passion with public safety.

Historical Context: Why This Matters

To understand why the SPFL’s warning resonates so strongly with fans and clubs alike, it helps to look at the backdrop of Old Firm derbies over recent years:

Old Firm Ticket Allocations and Away Fan Access

Away fan allocations have been a recurrent flashpoint:

• In prior seasons, both clubs drastically reduced away ticket numbers following safety concerns, with some fixtures played completely without away supporters.  
• A return to limited away support — with Rangers receiving a few thousand away tickets — was negotiated for recent meetings, reflecting careful compromise between sporting fairness and safety logistics.  

These twists in policy reflect a broader tussle over how to preserve the historic scale of Old Firm rivalry while acknowledging that full stadium allocations for tens of thousands of travelling supporters have, at times, been cited by authorities as an untenable public safety risk without massive policing and security resources.

Legacy of Crowd Disorder

Old Firm matches are among the most intense and historically charged rivalries in world football, rooted in cultural, religious and social fault lines in Glasgow and beyond. While modern Scottish football has sought to defuse such tensions, every high-profile derby risks reigniting elements of that legacy — pyrotechnics, chants, songs, and confrontations that can cross boundaries into misconduct.

The SPFL’s warning is not just about one match or one set of supporters; it’s part of a longer effort to redefine boundaries — showing that passion is welcome, but danger and illegal actions are not.

Fan Reaction and Club Responses

Public responses to the SPFL’s warnings have been mixed, reflecting the broader divides around derby culture:

• Supporters urging compliance argue that co-operation with matchday procedures and safety protocols ensures everyone can enjoy the game and minimises disruptions. For many ordinary travelling fans, the message is simple: don’t risk club sanctions or personal arrest over avoidable behaviour.
• Critical voices within fan communities sometimes frame such warnings as heavy-handed or punitive, asserting that loyal supporters are being treated like criminals based on the actions of a small minority. Such sentiment can fuel online debate and contribute to distrust between some supporter groups and authorities.

Importantly, while passionate discourse and strong opinions are part of football culture, the SPFL’s stance emphasises responsibility and safety — aiming to protect the vast majority of fans who want nothing more than to support their teams in a safe environment.

What This Means for Tomorrow’s Derby

With the match scheduled for tomorrow, the practical implications are clear:

• Rangers fans attending must comply with entry procedures and arrive early to avoid missing kick-off.
• Any behaviour involving flares, rockets, or dangerous conduct will be treated seriously — potentially leading to immediate ejection, arrest, or future restrictions.
• The clubs will be monitored closely by league and police authorities throughout the day; both teams have a vested interest in a safe, drama-free fixture that can be decided on the pitch.

As the Old Firm derby approaches, there’s no doubt that football passion in Scotland remains intense — but with fresh, enforced rules and stern warnings from the SPFL, tomorrow’s fixture will be a test of whether supporter fervour can coexist with the league’s renewed focus on responsibility and safety.

The SPFL’s warning to Rangers fans ahead of the Old Firm derby is emblematic of broader safety policies, a response to longstanding issues in Scottish football, and a clear statement that certain behaviours will no longer be tolerated if clubs and supporters wish to preserve open access to these historic fixtures.