Rangers have escalated their dispute with Celtic to the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) after Celtic refused to provide away tickets for the final Old Firm derby of the season unless the Ibrox club bans its Union Bears ultras group.
The SPFL board will convene a sub-committee next week to rule on the matter ahead of the match on Sunday, 10 May. The clash is pivotal in a three-way title race involving leaders Heart of Midlothian and both Glasgow giants.
Tensions flared following disorder at the Scottish Cup quarter-final on 8 March, when fans from both sides invaded the pitch after Celtic won on penalties at Rangers' home ground. A Scottish FA investigation led by sports event consultant Mark Blackbourne is still pending.
Celtic has demanded the exclusion of a section of Rangers supporters they claim "identifiably engaged in serious violence and disorder" during the cup tie. Rangers responded by calling on the SPFL to uphold competition integrity, warning that removing away fans would create a "material sporting imbalance" and set a dangerous precedent.
"Celtic FC informed us that they will not provide any tickets for the forthcoming game to our supporters unless we agree not to allocate tickets to members of the Union Bears," Rangers said in a statement. "We have firmly rejected those conditions and have referred the matter to the SPFL board."
Rangers emphasized they have condemned the actions of certain individuals on 8 March and have sought to work with Celtic on security measures. They argue that denying away fans access to such a high-stakes fixture would undermine the competition.
Celtic, meanwhile, stated they are "ready and willing to make the full allocation as normal available to Rangers FC, subject to a condition regarding distribution to a particular section." The club stressed that safety at Celtic Park is its top priority, following a detailed risk assessment for the upcoming match.
The decision now rests with the SPFL, with both clubs awaiting the outcome before the crucial derby.