ANGE POSTECOGLOU hopes the fifty-fifty split between Celtic and Rangers fans at next week’s Scottish Cup semi-final encourages those in power to increase the usual away fan allocations for the derby games going forward.
Last Sunday’s Premiership clash between the Old Firm duo saw the return of away fans in the fixture for the first time since before the Covid pandemic.
Around 700 Celtic supporters took to the usual away corner which seats away fans at Ibrox for the game, which ended 2-1 to Celtic.
And while it was still a far cry from the 7,000 travelling support that the game used to permit prior to 2018, it was certainly a step in the right direction.
Postecoglou is looking forward to the unique atmosphere of his fourth instalment of the derby being an even split at the national stadium.
But he admits he wants to see an increased number of away supporters back at the games.
He said: “It will be unique but it will be great. So far we have just had a taste of what it can be.
“Our 700 were pretty loud the other day and did a fantastic job supporting us. Hopefully we will get increased numbers in all the derbies.
“The Hampden experience will hopefully encourage people to look at that because there is no doubt that in every game if you can have a fair share of supporters from both side it adds to the event.”
Following last week’s crowd trouble at Ibrox, which saw a 32-year-old man charged with throwing a bottle, the Australian hopes there is no such trouble at Hampden.
He added: “You would hope not and I am sure the authorities are well aware of it (the risk).
“With all these things you rely on the people who are responsible for those kind of issues to have control.
“It is not something I am going to spend too much time thinking about because there are people who much better informed to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“It is not just for the players either but for the supporters too.
“When I look around grounds there are a lot of families there, a lot of young kids there. We want to be able to say the atmosphere at these games is second to none and people leave the stadium – irrespective of result – knowing they have been part of something big and special.”
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