The Scottish Premier League could be forced to scrap the New Year Old Firm derby next season. The SPL fixtures will be released on Friday and the traditional meeting between Rangers and Celtic, which takes place on the public holidays of 1/2 January, looks set to played on a midweek evening in December instead. The move follows police advice in a bid to reduce the possibility of trouble surrounding the fixture. SPL secretary Iain Blair told the Scottish Mail on Sunday: 'We've been working with the police and government and their view is a midweek Old Firm derby is easier for them to deal with compared to the challenges presented by bank holidays, such as 2 January. '28 Wednesday is a working day, as is 29 Thursday, so let's see what happens. 'While the crowd situation at the actual games has been very good in recent years, their view is that what happens at the stadium has an effect on various parts around Scotland, excessive drinking etc, and the problems created. 'If there are things we can do that would minimise those opportunities, then we will look at them.'
Eh? Not playing the old firm game on the 1st/2nd is going to stop people being pissed?! I reckon, if they changed New Years, there'd still be trouble....
everyone is off those days anyway so instead of having it at 12 it's going to be at night which means everyone will be getting tanked up all day. well done SPL, your stupidity is astounding
here's the reason why we'll never get a 3pm kick off again or a league decider again. I hope ye (sic) are proud of yourselves tims
There isn't really. It was all blown out of proportion by police and politicians for their own ends. I'm not saying it's a picnic but the singing and chanting is no worse that what you hear at a Man Utd v Liverpool game.
