SPFL Premiership games at Ibrox appear to be one step closer to normalisation with the impending return of away fans.
This will be made possible with the relaxation of rules and guidelines, put in place by the Joint Response Group – the body made of up SFA and SPFL delegates (as well as having input from the government and authorities) in dealing with the impact of the pandemic on football.
Crucially, the immediate relaxation means that the ‘red zone’ at Ibrox would not be required, allowing Rangers to be able to provide an away allocation to opposition clubs for their supporters.
The news was relayed earlier this afternoon by Stephen McGowan of the Scottish Daily Mail:
Scottish football returning to normal with the scrapping of mandatory matchday red zones by the Joint Response Group.
Clubs will now be permitted to relax rules on away fans, hospitality areas, training grounds and travel based on their own risk assessments.
— stephen.mcgowan (@mcgowan_stephen) October 5, 2021
On 16th October, Hearts will visit Ibrox and this update comes following the Edinburgh club making an official complaint to the SPFL over Rangers not issuing tickets for their fans to attend the fixture.
Whilst this news won’t mean a complete return to ‘normality’ pre-Covid, it is a massive step in the right direction.
Away fans mostly add to the atmosphere and competitive edge of games, especially when the likes of Hearts and Hibs come to Ibrox – during Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Easter Road team, given all that happened, the noise levels would have been significantly increased – guaranteed.
The top of the table clash with Hearts, after the international break, will simply be improved as a spectacle if Rangers are able to implement the usual away section as a direct consequence of the JRG update.