The Rangers have the talent to step up the title race as Connor Barron nears his return from injury
Rangers boss Danny Rohl has called on everyone to commit to protecting fan attendance at the Celtic derby amid his fears of funding cuts after Sunday’s Ibrox attack.
The SFA is continuing its investigation into the Rangers vs Celtic result
However, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill sees no reason why Rangers’ place in their next league game at Parkhead should be affected.
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) and the police are investigating the scenes that followed Celtic’s penalty shootout victory and a number of people have been arrested.
Police Scotland have already said they will oppose the re-seating of 7,500 away fans and Rohl fears dire consequences.
“The emotional part was huge during the game,” he said. “I like to have these Old Firms with supporters from both sides, I think this is very good.
“This makes football fun, it makes the atmosphere on the field and everyone is committed to continuing like this.”
Asked if he feared there would be no fans at Rangers’ post-league exit at Celtic Park, the German said: “It would be a shame for us – and for all of us.
“I really enjoy this game and the fans of both sides, when you are away or at home, that makes football exciting and I hope we can continue.
“However, when something like that happens, you have to be careful because it might have an effect and it might not be good.”
O’Neill has already expressed his sadness that a permanent return to the regular allocation now looks unlikely but he saw no risk of Rangers losing their circa-2,500 capacity for their upcoming trip to Celtic Park.
O’Neill said: “Rangers will deserve their share, won’t they? And they deserve that too, it’s a league game.
“What I was talking about was the complete distribution, something that I feel the game – although it is still difficult – has not been in recent years. I think everyone will look at it and think that it is not important.”
The SFA launched an investigation immediately after the match which could lead to disciplinary action and the governing body announced on Thursday that it would issue an independent report on security at the game.
After being criticized by Police Scotland for not commenting and criticizing, both clubs broke their silence on Thursday.
Rangers have “unequivocally” condemned the “disruption that has taken place” and are tight-lipped about the “horrendous” portrayal of the deaths of 66 fans in the 1971 Ibrox disaster.
The Ibrox club also called for the reputation of its fans to be “fairly treated” and insisted they “will not accept narratives that ignore the full context”.
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Celtic’s chairman, Brian Wilson, said the “enthusiastic response” and attendance at the stadium by their fans was “unusual” and rarely criticised.
He continued: “If there is evidence of violence, if there is evidence of threats of violence, then I will condemn that but let’s look at the evidence before we create perhaps a false narrative.”
The Rangers players have put a lot of pressure on the title race for the injured star
Rohl revealed ahead of Sunday’s trip to St Mirren that Mohamed Diomande is the only injury in the Rangers squad, but the manager is keen to fill the midfielder’s void.
Indeed, Joshua Barrie has confirmed that Connor Barron is “in contention” to play in the Old Firm and is therefore likely to be in the squad at St Mirren Park.
Barron, who earns around £14,000-a-week at Ibrox, has been ruled out for three months after picking up a knee injury in mid-January, which would have meant his return during the league break, casting doubt on his ability to play against title rivals Celtic and Hearts.
However, with the 23-year-old returning to the starting line-up this weekend, he will add another option to Rohl’s midfield in what could be a defining fixture of the title race, this weekend as the rivals meet after a split.
