Coatbridge Chancellor
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Rangers were left seething after Glasgow council chiefs green-lighted Celtic’s request to welcome in 18,500 fans for their Saturday friendly – 10,000 more than Steven Gerrard’s champions have been allowed to host across the city just two hours later.
But local authority chiefs insist they are only following safety guidelines after ordering Gers to leave Ibrox more than three-quarters empty for their clash with Brighton while at the same time giving Celtic the thumbs up to stage the biggest crowd in Scotland since the start of the pandemic.
Gerrard’s squad are gearing up for a glamour double header against Graham Potter’s Premier League outfit on Saturday, with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid then visiting Govan the following day.
Gers announced earlier this week they would use the tune-up clashes to ramp up their preparations for the return to full houses.
The Brighton game - which kicks-off at 5.30pm - will be staged in front of 8,500 fans, with 12,500 lucky ballot winners then set to pile through the turnstiles for Sunday’s showdown with the Galacticos.
Rangers plan to increase the capacity further to 17,000 for their first league game of the new season against Livingston on July 31 before hopefully throwing the gates open and staging a 51,000 sell-out for their Champions League clash with Malmo or Helsinki on August 10 - they day after Scotland’s covid restrictions are due to be lifted.
But the news the Hoops will run out to a crowd of 18,500 fans for their 3pm warm-up match with West Ham on Saturday has left both Ibrox chiefs and fans alike stunned.
A well-placed Ibrox source told Record Sport : “The board are not happy about this at all.
“They simply cannot understand why Glasgow City Council are only allowing them to welcome in 8,500 fans to Ibrox when there will be double that at Parkhead for a game kicking-off two hours before. It just doesn’t make sense.”
However, council bosses say the discrepancy is down to the fact a graduated build-up for large scale events has been agreed with the Scotland’s Safety Advisory Group, which regulates attendances.
As Celtic hosted 9,000 fans for Tuesday’s European qualifier with Midtjylland, they can now increase the capacity for the Hammers showdown.
But because Rangers’ clash with Brighton is the first since Scotland moved to Level Zero conditions on Monday, they are only allowed to make use of around 50 per cent of Ibrox’s current 17,000 Covid-safety crowd limit - with the proportion jumping to 75 and then 100 per cent for the matches against Real and Livingston.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council explained: “We really want to see events, including matches, back as close to normal as the regulations allow. It’s good for the economy and frankly it’s just good for people to be able to do the things they love doing.
“But in doing it safely, we’re stepping up how many people can be in stadiums match by match, starting at 50% of safe capacity, then 75%, then 100%. We think this gives the right balance and allows Glasgow’s clubs to start moving towards normality.”
While Rangers are upset by the approach, Celtic bosses have welcomed the decision which will see Parkhead beat the country’s previous pandemic crowd record of 16,500 for the British & Irish Lions rugby clash at Murrayfield last month.
But local authority chiefs insist they are only following safety guidelines after ordering Gers to leave Ibrox more than three-quarters empty for their clash with Brighton while at the same time giving Celtic the thumbs up to stage the biggest crowd in Scotland since the start of the pandemic.
Gerrard’s squad are gearing up for a glamour double header against Graham Potter’s Premier League outfit on Saturday, with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid then visiting Govan the following day.
Gers announced earlier this week they would use the tune-up clashes to ramp up their preparations for the return to full houses.
The Brighton game - which kicks-off at 5.30pm - will be staged in front of 8,500 fans, with 12,500 lucky ballot winners then set to pile through the turnstiles for Sunday’s showdown with the Galacticos.
Rangers plan to increase the capacity further to 17,000 for their first league game of the new season against Livingston on July 31 before hopefully throwing the gates open and staging a 51,000 sell-out for their Champions League clash with Malmo or Helsinki on August 10 - they day after Scotland’s covid restrictions are due to be lifted.
But the news the Hoops will run out to a crowd of 18,500 fans for their 3pm warm-up match with West Ham on Saturday has left both Ibrox chiefs and fans alike stunned.
A well-placed Ibrox source told Record Sport : “The board are not happy about this at all.
“They simply cannot understand why Glasgow City Council are only allowing them to welcome in 8,500 fans to Ibrox when there will be double that at Parkhead for a game kicking-off two hours before. It just doesn’t make sense.”
However, council bosses say the discrepancy is down to the fact a graduated build-up for large scale events has been agreed with the Scotland’s Safety Advisory Group, which regulates attendances.
As Celtic hosted 9,000 fans for Tuesday’s European qualifier with Midtjylland, they can now increase the capacity for the Hammers showdown.
But because Rangers’ clash with Brighton is the first since Scotland moved to Level Zero conditions on Monday, they are only allowed to make use of around 50 per cent of Ibrox’s current 17,000 Covid-safety crowd limit - with the proportion jumping to 75 and then 100 per cent for the matches against Real and Livingston.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council explained: “We really want to see events, including matches, back as close to normal as the regulations allow. It’s good for the economy and frankly it’s just good for people to be able to do the things they love doing.
“But in doing it safely, we’re stepping up how many people can be in stadiums match by match, starting at 50% of safe capacity, then 75%, then 100%. We think this gives the right balance and allows Glasgow’s clubs to start moving towards normality.”
While Rangers are upset by the approach, Celtic bosses have welcomed the decision which will see Parkhead beat the country’s previous pandemic crowd record of 16,500 for the British & Irish Lions rugby clash at Murrayfield last month.