Will Rangers give Celtic a Guard of Honour this weekend? Rivals set to clash in latest Old Firm
Celtic claimed their 55th Scottish Premier League title with four games to spare last weekend after beating Dundee United. Brendan Rodgers‘ side have steamrolled through the SPFL, comfortably beating their inner-city rivals to the crown. It’s been another season of success for CelticGetty The Hoops have simply been more consistent than Rangers and are currently 17 points clear of the Gers. After their league success, teams will now be expected to give Celtic a Guard of Honour, which is a tradition for sides who secure the title with games remaining. However, things differ when it comes to this fixture due to the Old Firm rivalry. Will Rangers give Celtic a Guard of Honour? No, Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson has confirmed there will be no guard of honour for the champions this Sunday. Ferguson said: “I’ve been asked quite a few times about this, it’s never happened in the past. “I don’t know why there’s always a big clamour about a guard of honour. “It’s never happened whether it’s Celtic, whether it’s Rangers, and I think it will always just remain that way. “Celtic are champions for a reason, because they have been the most consistent throughout the season, we haven’t, but in terms of a guard of honour, I don’t see that.” As Gers’ boss Ferguson said, the debate has cropped up multiple times before, with opinions split over whether it should be done. Speaking on White & Jordan, talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan suggested it shouldn’t happen at all, never mind in Rangers versus Celtic. Rangers are unlikely to provide a Guard of Honour this weekendGetty He said: “I think from the mature man that sits here now, thinks about the reality of upholding the value of the game and making people behave properly across the board, there is merit in it. “But the reality of it, it’s a load of old pony, isn’t it? It’s like shaking hands before a game. “What is this about? Nobody wants to really do it. And the players that are winning the league don’t really care if you do it for them anyway. So what is the point of it? “They’ve won the league, everyone recognises you as champions, you get all the plaudits and all that. “So we’re seeding in this confected respect that isn’t there. It certainly isn’t there between the fans. “Nobody sits there from Rangers wishing Celtic well and wanting to respect them. It’s done through gritted teeth.” A small group of Celtic fans will be allowed in IbroxGetty Danny Murphy added: “Rangers-Celtic is this ferocious rivalry, isn’t it? And there are very few other two clubs you can compare that to.” In 2019, champions Celtic visited Ibrox, and Rangers decided not to give them a Guard of Honour. Gers manager Steven Gerrard was asked about the decision and said: “To be honest, my thoughts are not important on that subject. “The club have made a decision on that, and decided there won’t be a guard of honour, so I think my thoughts on it are irrelevant. “I will follow what I am told to do by the people who are in charge of the club.” But Hoops boss Neil Lennon was not happy and said that Celtic would have lined up to welcome Rangers if it was the other way around. Lennon said: “It’s [Rangers not doing it] a break from tradition. “I think we would have done it if the shoe had been on the other foot, but it’s not a major issue.” Both teams have refused to give a Guard of Honour in the pastGetty However, when Rangers won the league in 2021, Celtic didn’t give them a Guard of Honour, with interim manager John Kennedy using the previous example as a reason. “We spoke collectively about it and we won’t do it,” Kennedy said. “It is not about lacking class, nothing like that, because we are a club that always shows class and dignity and do what is right. “But ultimately this same group of players went in as champions [in 2019] and didn’t get the respect that time, if you want to call it that.” So, with many conflicts over the issue in the past, it is unlikely that Rangers will provide the Guard of Honour for their rivals.
Celtic claimed their 55th Scottish Premier League title with four games to spare last weekend after beating Dundee United.
Brendan Rodgers‘ side have steamrolled through the SPFL, comfortably beating their inner-city rivals to the crown.
The Hoops have simply been more consistent than Rangers and are currently 17 points clear of the Gers.
After their league success, teams will now be expected to give Celtic a Guard of Honour, which is a tradition for sides who secure the title with games remaining.
However, things differ when it comes to this fixture due to the Old Firm rivalry.
Will Rangers give Celtic a Guard of Honour?
No, Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson has confirmed there will be no guard of honour for the champions this Sunday.
Ferguson said: “I’ve been asked quite a few times about this, it’s never happened in the past.
“I don’t know why there’s always a big clamour about a guard of honour.
“It’s never happened whether it’s Celtic, whether it’s Rangers, and I think it will always just remain that way.
“Celtic are champions for a reason, because they have been the most consistent throughout the season, we haven’t, but in terms of a guard of honour, I don’t see that.”
As Gers’ boss Ferguson said, the debate has cropped up multiple times before, with opinions split over whether it should be done.
Speaking on White & Jordan, talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan suggested it shouldn’t happen at all, never mind in Rangers versus Celtic.
He said: “I think from the mature man that sits here now, thinks about the reality of upholding the value of the game and making people behave properly across the board, there is merit in it.
“But the reality of it, it’s a load of old pony, isn’t it? It’s like shaking hands before a game.
“What is this about? Nobody wants to really do it. And the players that are winning the league don’t really care if you do it for them anyway. So what is the point of it?
“They’ve won the league, everyone recognises you as champions, you get all the plaudits and all that.
“So we’re seeding in this confected respect that isn’t there. It certainly isn’t there between the fans.
“Nobody sits there from Rangers wishing Celtic well and wanting to respect them. It’s done through gritted teeth.”
Danny Murphy added: “Rangers-Celtic is this ferocious rivalry, isn’t it? And there are very few other two clubs you can compare that to.”
In 2019, champions Celtic visited Ibrox, and Rangers decided not to give them a Guard of Honour.
Gers manager Steven Gerrard was asked about the decision and said: “To be honest, my thoughts are not important on that subject.
“The club have made a decision on that, and decided there won’t be a guard of honour, so I think my thoughts on it are irrelevant.
“I will follow what I am told to do by the people who are in charge of the club.”
But Hoops boss Neil Lennon was not happy and said that Celtic would have lined up to welcome Rangers if it was the other way around.
Lennon said: “It’s [Rangers not doing it] a break from tradition.
“I think we would have done it if the shoe had been on the other foot, but it’s not a major issue.”
However, when Rangers won the league in 2021, Celtic didn’t give them a Guard of Honour, with interim manager John Kennedy using the previous example as a reason.
“We spoke collectively about it and we won’t do it,” Kennedy said.
“It is not about lacking class, nothing like that, because we are a club that always shows class and dignity and do what is right.
“But ultimately this same group of players went in as champions [in 2019] and didn’t get the respect that time, if you want to call it that.”
So, with many conflicts over the issue in the past, it is unlikely that Rangers will provide the Guard of Honour for their rivals.
