Martin O’Neill has criticised Rangers’ decision to offer Celtic only 300 tickets for next month’s League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, saying Celtic would be better off refusing the allocation and reciprocating with the same number. He argued that the Old Firm fixture is at its best when away supporters are properly represented, although the reduced allocation follows recent crowd-disorder sanctions.

Rangers announced the allocation after both clubs were ordered to play their next Scottish Cup home ties behind closed doors, following disorder at last season’s Ibrox quarter-final, which had about 8,000 Celtic fans present. Celtic responded to their Champions League exit by beating Falkirk 2-1, but O’Neill said the club still needs greater squad depth before Thursday’s transfer deadline, with concerns over left-back Kieran Tierney’s fitness and the midfield after Arne Engels’ move to West Ham.