The introduction of netting is a necessity to deal with the rise in hooliganism from the Rangers support.
With Rangers fans being allowed into Celtic Park for the first time in a few years, the installation of netting is a damning indictment of the concerns Celtic has over the rise in hooliganism.
After several years of no away fans being at Celtic Park or Ibrox, due to Rangers spitting the dummy and cutting Celtic’s allocation over their bitterness at their rivals’ dominance, Rangers fans will be allowed back into Celtic Park for the first time but with a new deterrent to combat the rise in hooliganism within the Rangers supporters’ ranks.
For a number of years now, Celtic fans, players, and staff have been targeted by Rangers fans throwing everything from vapes, to coins, to bottles, and even a metal bottle opener. Following the club’s allocation being cut at Ibrox in 2018, Celtic refused further tickets to Ibrox in 2023 citing security and safety concerns - which has eventually culminated in netting and other security measures being put in place to allow away fans back into both grounds.
Sunday’s derby will see Rangers fans surrounded by black safety netting in an attempt to stop the spate of missile throwing incidents that has plagued this fixture in recent years.
What a sorry state we are in, when grown men and women cannot be trusted to behave and not throw missiles at other fans, players, and staff members. But it is a clear sign of the rise of hooliganism within the Rangers support that such measures are being taken and the lack of accountability from both Rangers themselves and Scottish football authorities.
It is reminiscent of the metal fencing and cages that were prevalent in the 1970s and 80s in the UK prior to Hillsborough, and are still used on the continent to this day.
Before anyone across the divide tries to paint this as a security measure to protect both sides of the divide, that is entirely false and that narrative can be disproven by looking at games at both grounds since the away fan ban. Not once incident has occurred where a Rangers player or coach has been hit by missiles from Celtic supporters. Yet there has been a plethora of missiles being thrown at Celtic players and staff at Ibrox.
Incidents include:
These are just a few of the incidents that have occurred that hit the mainstream media. A clear indictment that such incidents are a one way street.
Rangers themselves trialled their own netting during last night’s Europa League clash against Fenerbache. Sadly for the Turkish club’s keeper Irfan Can Egribayat, it failed to stop Rangers fans in the Copland Stand from throwing a missile at him - a bulky pink vape - just minutes before the penalty shoot-out which Rangers won.
When questioned about the incident after the game, interim Rangers manager Barry Ferguson said: "In terms of things getting thrown, it’s people getting a bit frustrated but I have no issue with that."
That was the perfect time for Ferguson to condemn the missile throwing hooligans in the Rangers support, but he has in fact condoned such violent actions and is indicative of the plague that is infecting the Ibrox club - all because they are frustrated and angry at being second best in the city and in the league. A shameful comment from a guy who is nothing more than a jumped up ned in an expensive suit. If further incidents ensue this Sunday from the Rangers support - then Celtic must not only call out those supporters but also the dangerous and knuckledragging comment from Ferguson that helped to downplay such behaviour.
It is still yet to be seen whether Rangers will face UEFA sanctions over this incident as well as the far right banner unfurled by the Union Bears.