Derek McInnes Disappointed by Away Fans Lockout in Celtic v Rangers Matches

Derek McInnes has voiced his disappointment at the decision to lock out away fans from Celtic v Rangers league fixtures for the rest of the season, describing derbies as “always better” with rival supporters inside the ground.

The Kilmarnock manager was speaking after it was confirmed there will be no away allocations for SPFL meetings between the Glasgow giants this term, a move agreed after discussions with the league following last season’s ugly post-match scenes at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup.

The latest flashpoint came ahead of next weekend’s Premier Sports Cup tie at Ibrox. Rangers had proposed a reduced away allocation for Celtic fans, only for that offer to be rejected by the Parkhead club. Talks with the SPFL followed, and the outcome is stark: no away fans at league derbies between the sides for the remainder of the campaign.

McInnes learned of the decision in real time.

“I noticed the news on the Sky ticker tape there,” he said at his Friday press conference. “First reaction is that it is disappointing that it has been made.

“Without commenting too much because I don't know the club's position on it at the moment, I think it is more appropriate that the club speaks on it.

“But it's always better when the opposition fans are allowed into a derby game.

“But whether that can be... there has still got to be behaviours met and obviously the decision has been made.

“I don't know, I haven't spoken to anyone at the club regarding that so I can't really comment any more than that.”

The call strips one of world football’s most intense fixtures of a defining ingredient: the sight and sound of a pocket of away fans roaring back against a hostile wall of home support. In a season already loaded with narrative at the top of the Premiership, the Old Firm will now play out their league battles in front of one-colour crowds, and the game in Scotland must live with what that looks and feels like.