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Celtic has banned Rangers' Union Bears from attending the upcoming Old Firm derby, a decision supported by former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness. The ban aims to address issues of fan misconduct and safety at matches.
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Rangers Fans Outraged As Celtic Old Firm Ban Deemed Justified: Does It Solve Anything For Rohl?
Rangers sit third in the Scottish Premiership table, trailing Celtic by four points and Hearts by seven, with the season approaching its defining stretch. Against that backdrop, Celtic have confirmed that Rangersâ supporter group the Union Bears will not receive an allocation for the upcoming Old Firm derby at Celtic Park.
Keith Wyness, former Aberdeen chief executive and a seasoned football consultant who led Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 before serving as chief at both Everton and Aston Villa, backs Celticâs decision completely. Speaking on Football Insiderâs Inside Track podcast, Wyness said that both the Union Bears and Celticâs own Green Brigade have shamed their respective clubs.
He argued that Celticâs approach was entirely fair, adding that more moderate supporters from either side could easily fill those allocations. Wyness pointed specifically to trouble like pitch invasions and the wearing of masks inside grounds as the kinds of incidents that simply have no place in the modern game. He was careful to note that the ban targets the Union Bears specifically, not Rangersâ travelling support as a whole, and reckons both clubs know exactly who the repeat offenders are.
He told Football Insiderâs Inside Track podcast: âAs I understand it, itâs not away fans overall, itâs just the Union Bears.
âThatâs where I am in complete agreement with Celtic in the way theyâve approached this. But of course, itâs very dangerous to get involved between Celtic and Rangers because no one side will ever give way to the other.
âItâs perfectly fair to say that some of the Green Brigade from Celtic and the Union Bears from Rangers have brought, I think, some disgrace on each of their clubs. The clubs do know who they are, and they should be excluded from Old Firm games.
Celtic banned the Union Bears due to concerns over fan misconduct, including incidents like pitch invasions and wearing masks at games.
Rangers are currently third in the Scottish Premiership, trailing Celtic by four points and Hearts by seven.
Keith Wyness, a former chief executive, supports Celtic's decision, stating that it is fair and necessary for safety.
The ban was influenced by repeated incidents of fan misconduct, including pitch invasions and other disruptive behaviors at matches.

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âThere are plenty of more moderate Rangers or Celtic fans who could fill an allocation. Thatâs what should be encouraged until thereâs some decent behaviour. I mean, turning up in your Spider-Man mask and pitch invasions, that shouldnât be the sort of thing that football is about.â
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND â MAY 04: Danny Rohl, Head Coach of Rangers, looks on prior to the William Hill Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and Rangers at Tynecastle Park on May 04, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)
To be honest, it probably wonât change much in the short term, and Rangers supporters have every right to feel that something is unresolved here. Celticâs Green Brigade have faced their own share of trouble on multiple occasions, and the fact that they arenât facing similar treatment this time makes the whole thing feel one-sided, regardless of how reasonable Wyness sounds on paper.
Rangers, already fighting to close a gap at the top of the table, head into Celtic Park under enough pressure without the additional distraction of a contested ticketing row. The Union Bears bring a real spark to the stands, and not having them there definitely weakens the away end.
But here is the more uncomfortable truth: if the behaviour Wyness describes is accurate, then Rangersâ long-term reputation matters more than one vocal sectionâs attendance. Defending bad behaviour just because it comes from your own end benefits nobody, least of all Rangers.