“Football’s not the same without the support,” Souness | OneFootball

While Scott Brown represented the Celtic side of things at the Premier Sports media event yesterday, the Rangers angle was covered by Graeme Souness and rather surprisingly he talked a lot of sense…

8th March 2026; Ibrox Scottish Cup, Rangers versus Celtic; Celtic fans throw ticker tape before kick off. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Bizarrely enough I find myself agreeing with just about every word that GRAEME SOUNESS has had to say about the away fan ban that has been imposed for the Premier Sports Cup quarter final at Ibrox on Sunday where Celtic are the visitors.

Like Scott Brown, whose comments on the away fan ban were reported on earlier on Celtic Shorts, Souness is stop on when he argues that the Glasgow Derby fixture is in danger of losing what makes it special by stripping away the away support from these games.

8th March 2026; Ibrox Scottish Cup, Rangers versus Celtic; Celtic fans. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Yes, Celtic suffer more that the Rangers because we will have to play the cup tie at Ibrox with no away fans but there will also be four league matches this season when it will be home fans only after the decision taken by the SPFL following Celtic’s rejection of the pathetic offer of just 300 tickets for Sunday’s game from the current Rangers board.

“Having no supporters in the stadium will diminish this game. It would diminish any game, but this game especially,” the former Rangers manager argued, as reported byThe Scottish Sun.

“I hope it’s a short-term thing because the Old Firm (sic) is such a spectacle. There’s no bigger or more hostile atmosphere than an Old Firm (sic) game if you’re not at your home stadium.

8th March 2026; Ibrox Scottish Cup, Rangers versus Celtic; Rangers fans on the pitch. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

“It won’t be the same game. It will still be as important to the players and when you’re the manager, you’re very much aware of what it means to your supporters.

“Football’s not the same without the support,” Souness said, echoing the ‘Football without fans is nothing’ remark from Celtic’s legendary manager Jock Stein in a previous era.

Souness continued with his point at yesterday’s mainstream media event held by the SPFL for Premier Sports, the sponsors and broadcasters of the competition aka the League Cup.

“I’ve got people in England who ask me if I’d take them to Old Firm (sic) games. These are grown men asking if can get them tickets and whether I’d come up with them. I say, ‘Of course’, but that might be a wee bit difficult going forward.

Union Bears attack Celtic fans at Ibrox. Photo Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

“I was there when the supporters invaded the pitch and my first thought was, ‘This is getting watched throughout the world. What message is this sending about Scottish football?’ Souness remarked.

“I was so disappointed because it should be a showpiece game. It should be extremely competitive with passionate fans on both sides. But it was ruined and that image went everywhere in minutes.”

The former Rangers boss went on to compare the various derby matches that he has been involved in but admits that NONE come close to a Celtic v Rangers Glasgow Derby match.

“If you’re a football fan, the game has still got to be on your bucket list. The hostility towards each other is quite unique. I’ve been involved in some big derbies like Fenerbahce v Galatasaray, Everton v Liverpool, Benfica v Sporting or Porto, but this is the biggest. Why? Because of what it does to people’s lives if you don’t win.”

The situation will reverse next weekend when the Glasgow Derby circus moves to Celtic Park and it’s the Rangers fans turn to be locked out after the SPFL announced a ban on away supporters until the two clubs can reach a permanent solution.

That should hopefully happen after next Sunday when both sets of away fans have been missing for one game each. An agreed allocation going forward together with an agreed game management plan should be put in place before the next game which will be at Ibrox on the Sunday 3 January 2027.

Scottish Cup, Rangers versus Celtic; Celtic fans huddle. 8th March 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Souness also gave his thoughts on Sunday’s match.

“Rangers at home, with the bit of belief they’ve garnered over the last few games, should be in good form and looking forward to it. Celtic will be thinking they can go there and do the business.

It’s mind games too. You’ve got to be a strong personality. You’ve got to not play the occasion. Play the 11 players you’re playing against. Don’t be too aggressive too early or you’ll get in trouble.

“You’ve got to control your game and be up for every challenge coming.”

Martin O’Neill will speak to the media this afternoon to give his thoughts on Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final match at Ibrox on Sunday and we’ll cover that on Celtic Shorts later today.

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