Glasgow council bosses set to rubber stamp Old Firm sell out requests

Glasgow council bosses are set to give Rangers and Celtic the go-ahead to throw open the doors and welcome back capacity crowds.

Record Sport understands local authority bosses will not stand in the way of the Old Firm giants hosting sell-outs despite First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday announcing anyone looking to stage events in front of more than 5,000 people would still have to apply for permission.

The news sent shockwaves through both clubs.

But a source close to Glasgow City Council has allayed fears of further crowd limits after making clear the chances of either club receiving a knock-back are slim to none.

They told Record Sport : “We haven’t had any formal requests yet but it is vanishingly unlikely that we would say no to full house.”

Rangers are hoping to have a 51,000 sell-out for their Champions League return clash with Malmo next Tuesday rubber-stamped, while Parkhead bosses are planning on welcoming back 60,000 supporters for their Europa League clash with Jablonec two days later.

However, Sturgeon sent alarm bells ringing with her statement to fellow MSPs earlier in the day.

The First Minister announced that while the majority of social distancing rules will be scrapped, football fans will see a "careful return of large scale events".

Under the new rules, full houses from August 9 are not guaranteed with clubs still required to submit applications for the right to host attendances above 5,000.

The news came as a surprise to many, especially after clinical director Jason Leitch shared optimism last month that the Government would throw open the doors.

Full stadia hasn't graced Scottish football since Rangers' clash with Bayer Leverkusen in March 2020.

Speaking on Tuesday, the First Minister said: "While we expect to see the careful return of large scale events, we will for a limited time period keep in place the processes through which the organisers of large scale events of more than 5000, and indoor events of more than 2000, will have to apply for permission.

"This is allowing us and local authorities simply to be assured of the arrangements in place to reduce the risks of large scale gatherings."