Theoretically, Celtic could be offered next to no visiting tickets for the match at Ibrox – at least according to the rules and regulations set out by the Scottish Professional Football League for their primary cup competition.

For confirmation of this, BBC Scotland took a deep dive into the books. The relevant information is listed in Annex 2 – The Scottish Professional Football League Cup Competition Regulations – and section 11, Admission Arrangements for Visiting Clubs and clubs.

This is where it becomes clear that, in theory at least, Rangers are only required to make 50 tickets available to Celtic – 10 for the directors’ box and 40 for the stand, as detailed in sub-section one:

“11.1 The Home Club shall forward to the Visiting Club ‘without charge’ tickets, in the numbers set out below, so that they will be in the hands of the Visiting Club on or before the fifth day before the Match (unless under circumstances which render this impracticable) – 10 for Directors’ Box, 40 for the Stand.”

Further to this, the only other official stipulation in the competition guidelines that applies to tickets (at least up to and including the quarter-final stage) is in the next section of the rulebook:

“11.2 No Official or Player of the Visiting Club shall be entitled to enter the Home Club’s Ground without a ticket.”

It would therefore appear to be within Rangers’ gift, according to the strictest reading of the rules, to have very few Celtic supporters at Ibrox.