The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is considered one of the fiercest in world football and is rooted in a deep social,political and religious divide between the two clubs that dates back to the influx of Irish immigrants into Scotland in the early 20th century.
Violence between fans is commonplace,and derbies in the Scottish Premiership are rarely scheduled to kick off after midday to prevent fans from being overly intoxicated when they come to the stadium.
While some fans are furious that the clubs have “sold out” by transplanting their traditional rivalry to another country for financial gain – with Rangers supporters particularly unhappy about their side being used as a foil for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou’s mooted Australian homecoming – others are worried about what could happen in Sydney if Celtic and Rangers supporters were to mix at the same pubs near the venue.
John Wright,the Oceanic Rangers Supporters Association representative for the ‘Sydney True Blues’,said there was particular concern around how transport to and from Olympic Park would be managed,and tipped that levels of segregation and security unseen in Australian sport would be required.
“The two sets of supporters hate each other,” he said.
Come along,have a great time,just don’t be a dickhead.
NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres
“I was excited at the prospect that I could take my nine-year-old to a Rangers game in Sydney – wow,that’s dream stuff. But if I get on the train with my nine-year-old in the inner west,and we’ve both got our Rangers shirts on,and I get onto a carriage full of Hoops[Celtic supporters],blokes who’ve been on the bevvies for five or six hours and going to play their deepest,longest rivals ... I mean,what’s going to happen?