Brendan Rodgers blames Rangers from the START...

Brendan Rodgers blames Rangers from the START over away tickets as Celtic ‘got dragged… Read More 👇

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has placed the blame on Rangers for the ongoing fan lockout affecting the first two Old Firm derbies of the season, claiming that Celtic has been unfairly dragged into the situation. The controversy stems from the continued exclusion of away fans from the iconic fixtures, despite a recent agreement that was supposed to end the lockout.

The issue has been exacerbated by delays in construction work on the Copland Road stand at Ibrox, which has left Rangers unable to guarantee that they can safely accommodate Celtic supporters. Rodgers has argued that, given these circumstances, Celtic has no choice but to refuse entry to Rangers fans when the derby returns to Celtic Park.

Rodgers emphasized that Celtic’s priority is the safety and protection of their own supporters. He noted that if there is no certainty that Celtic fans will be allowed into Ibrox for the second fixture, it would be unreasonable for Celtic to allow Rangers fans into their stadium. “The club’s job is to protect the support,” Rodgers stated. “If there’s not that guarantee come the second fixture, then I think it’s only logical that you won’t reciprocate.”

He firmly placed the blame on Rangers, insisting that the ongoing issues have nothing to do with Celtic. According to Rodgers, Celtic has fulfilled its obligations by investing in the necessary safety measures at Celtic Park, but the same cannot be said for Rangers. He pointed out that the situation was initially caused by Rangers and that Celtic has been unfairly caught in the middle. “Celtic gets dragged into this here as it being a Celtic and Rangers thing. It’s not a Celtic and Rangers thing. This is a Rangers thing,” he said.

Rodgers also expressed frustration over the lack of good faith on Rangers’ part. He explained that Celtic has already invested heavily to ensure that their stadium meets safety standards, and that this work started months ago. However, the agreement between both clubs, which was supposed to allow fans from both sides to attend the derby matches, has not been fully honored. “It’s not complicated, it hasn’t been done. Good faith, however you want to put it, there’s an agreement for both and it’s not done,” Rodgers explained.

Given this, Rodgers argued that Celtic is right to prioritize the safety and rights of their supporters, even if it means Rangers fans will miss out on attending the upcoming match at Celtic Park. “If we allow Rangers supporters in and we get to January and our own fans can’t get in, it’s not good faith,” he said. “The agreement hasn’t been upheld so Celtic have to rightly defend their supporters and the club.”

While the current situation is far from ideal, Rodgers expressed hope that a resolution can be found before the end of the season. He stated that he wants both sets of fans to be able to attend future derby matches, but only if a fair and safe agreement is reached. “Let’s hope that after that, we can find a way to get the supporters in,” Rodgers concluded.