Rangers Confirm No Guard of Honour for Celtic in Latest Old Firm Clash

Rangers have made it clear they won’t be giving their fierce rivals Celtic a guard of honour when the Scottish champions come to Ibrox Stadium for their Premiership clash this Sunday, as stated by interim manager Barry Ferguson, thus maintaining the intensity of their rivalry.

Celtic secured their 13th title in 14 seasons last weekend, having established an unassailable lead with four matches remaining under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers.

The victory has allowed Celtic to draw level with Rangers on 55 Scottish league titles, a development that is sure to rankle the blue half of Glasgow ahead of the upcoming Old Firm Derby.

“A guard of honour has never been a tradition in the past, and there’s been quite the buzz around it,” Ferguson told Sky Sports. “If I were to imagine being in the champions’ position, it wouldn’t make much difference to me.”

“I doubt it would matter much to the Celtic players either, as this has always been the case. Let’s keep that tradition alive.”

This sentiment mirrors the situation when Steven Gerrard’s Rangers celebrated their 55th title in the 2020-21 season. Celtic’s then-interim manager John Kennedy remarked that they wouldn’t even applaud their rivals who thwarted their pursuit of a tenth consecutive title.

“However, one thing I will do is extend my hand to Brendan and congratulate him on dominating this season, as it’s undeniable that it must be painful for us,” Ferguson added.

“It definitely hurts me and the coaching staff; I’m certain it’s a sting for the players as well.”

Celtic’s manager has also shown a laid-back attitude regarding the guard of honour.

“It’s not a requirement as per the rules. In a rivalry as emotional as this, it is often challenging for the team that falls short,” said Rodgers, who has secured four Premiership titles with Celtic over two spells.

“I believe that whether you are a champion or not, demonstrating humility towards the opposing team, irrespective of the rivalry, is a sign of respect.

“The Celtic-Rangers match is highly emotional; if you frequently come up short, it can be difficult to explain that to your fans. But, as I’ve mentioned, I am a traditionalist.”

In contrast, over in England, the customary practice will continue.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday that his team will indeed offer a guard of honour to the newly crowned Premier League champions, Liverpool, at Stamford Bridge when they face off on Sunday.