Chris Sutton has jumped into the ongoing row surrounding Celtic's away ticket allocation ahead of their upcoming Scottish Cup quarter-final clash against arch-rivals Rangers at Ibrox Stadium.
The former Bhoys striker and pundit has branded the debate unnecessary and avoidable because of the competition's rules.
With Old Firm fixtures in recent years being impacted by reduced away sections, the issue has once again sparked frustration among supporters, who believe Scotland's biggest rivalry has been somewhat weakened.
What has Chris Sutton said about Celtic's allocation vs Rangers?
The recent Scottish Cup quarter-final draw has reopened the conversation, particularly given the differing rules compared to the Scottish Premiership, and Sutton was quick to make his stance clear.
Taking to social media, the former Celtic star said:
“Not sure what the fuss is about re Celtic’s ticket allocation at Ibrox. If the Scottish Cup rules allow up to 20% of the stadium’s capacity, then that’s what it should be… it would be good to get back [to] how it used to be in the league as well…”
The competition's regulations allow visiting clubs to request up to 20% of a stadium's capacity, meaning Celtic could be entitled to as many as 10,000 fans at Ibrox in early March – a significantly higher number than in recent league encounters.
FGG says: Chris Sutton right to call for better Old Firm league allocations
While some will disagree with Sutton's sentiments ahead of the fierce quarter-final clash, he is right about one thing.
There is a long-standing feeling among both sets of supporters that Old Firm games have lost something in recent years.
Derby games with packed away ends are often an intense spectacle, and Celtic vs Rangers is arguably one of the biggest in the world of football, so not having it live up to expectations in the league is certainly disappointing.
There is surely a strong argument for restoring full away allocations in the Scottish Premiership, should the Scottish Cup tie go ahead with an increased Celtic presence.