In the heated space of Scottish Football, the topic of away fan allocations continues to be a major talking point, with Celtic fans often finding themselves at the centre of allocation cuts by opposition clubs.
Despite the passionate support that follows Celtic on their travels, recent decisions by several clubs to reduce the number of tickets allocated to Celtic fans have sparked debates over fairness, fan behaviour, and the economic realities of Scottish football.
Hibernian’s decision to cut Celtic’s ticket allocation comes in the wake of unsettling incidents involving despicable chanting from Rangers fans during a cup tie against Hibernian at Easter Road.
The incident, which involved unsavoury singing after Martin Boyle suffered a serious head knock, prompted Hibernian to cite sectarian singing as a reason for reducing allocations for both Celtic and Rangers fans. This came days after the club’s AGM where Hibernian supporters imported the club to cut both Celtic and Rangers fan allowance.
Hibs also recognised the behaviour of their own fans with some throwing missiles at Hearts players at the last Edinburgh Derby.
St Mirren adopted a different strategy, reducing Celtic’s allocation with the hope of filling more season ticket seats. This decision reflects an economic gambit to increase home fan attendance without needing to displace season ticket holders for the sake of accommodating large away supports. Furthermore, St Mirren’s initiative to encourage fans to sponsor an empty seat highlights the financial implications of reduced away allocations, a creative yet desperate plea for support in lieu of the revenue lost from not filling stands with away supporters.
The spark that ignited widespread discussion on away allocations was Rangers’ decision to drastically reduce Celtic’s allocation from 7,500 to a mere 750 during Brendan Rodgers’ first spell as Celtic’s manager. This move, driven by home fans’ pressure during a period of Celtic’s derby dominance, marked a significant moment in Scottish football, raising questions about the impact of such decisions on the game’s atmosphere and integrity.
The SPFL faces a complex challenge in addressing the issues surrounding away allocations. Hibernian’s mention of strict liability, which would hold clubs accountable for their fans’ behaviour similar to UEFA competitions, represents one approach to encouraging better fan conduct. Meanwhile, proposals for establishing a baseline percentage of away supporters allowed in every ground aim to prevent clubs from arbitrarily cutting allocations.
Below is a table showcasing the away allocations for Celtic fans at various SPFL clubs:
| Stadium | Approximate Allocation |
|---|---|
| Dens Park | 3,700 |
| Tynecastle | 580 |
| Easter Road | 3,600 (New TBC) |
| Rugby Park | 4,000 |
| The Tony Macaroni Arena | 7,400 |
| Fir Park | 4,600 |
| Global Energy Stadium | 1,250 |
| McDiarmid Park | 4,500 |
| The SMiSA Stadium | 1,500 |
| Ibrox | 750 (Currently 0 *Safety Concerns) |
| Pittodrie | 1,700 |
