Tam McManus cannot believe Rangers vs Celtic news for Scottish Cup

Rangers F.C. are gearing up for a pivotal double header against long-time rivals Celtic F.C., matches that could shape the remainder of their season.

The Glasgow giants will face off in consecutive weeks at Ibrox, starting with a crucial Scottish Premiership clash on Sunday, followed by a Scottish Cup quarter-final tie.

Danny Rohl’s side currently sit second in the league, four points behind leaders Hearts of Midlothian F.C. and two ahead of Celtic, who have a game in hand.

With the league split approaching, a Rangers victory would have major ramifications for the title race, while the upcoming cup fixture offers a chance to knock Celtic out and further dent their disappointing campaign at Parkhead.
Ticket details for the cup tie have now been released, leaving former Hibs midfielder Tam McManus in disbelief.

Under Scottish FA rules, travelling supporters are entitled to a larger allocation, meaning Celtic fans will be housed in the Broomloan Stand — a setup not seen since 2018.

Rangers season ticket holders can purchase their seats from 24 to 26 February, while those affected by the Broomloan Stand switch can manage their allocations on Friday and Saturday.

Ticket prices are set at £53 for adults, with juniors paying £43, prompting McManus to comment on X: “Did I read that correctly? £53 for a ticket? Fifty-Three Pounds? Shocking for juniors too.”

Despite the cost, both sets of supporters will relish the chance to attend a full away allocation for the first time in eight years, with 7,500 tickets made available to Celtic fans.

Travel allocations had been reduced following the March 2018 derby, when Rangers lost 3-2 despite twice taking the lead through Josh Windass and James Tavernier. In recent league games, only 2,000-2,500 away tickets were made available after a near two-year absence of travelling fans.

A compromise now allows for a larger allocation, with Rangers optimistic that a similar setup will be maintained should a future cup tie be played at Celtic Park.

The coming weeks are set to have a major impact on both clubs’ seasons. Celtic trail German side VfB Stuttgart 4-1 after their Europa League play-off first leg, raising the possibility that Martin O’Neil’s squad could finish trophyless for only the third time this century.

Rangers have the opportunity to seriously disrupt Celtic’s title bid on Sunday and carry that momentum into the cup tie, potentially delivering another blow after a tough campaign for their rivals. A successful double header could also set Danny Rohl up for one final push toward the league title.