Ex-Rangers man Stuart McCall knows all about the famous derby, having made over 250 appearances for the Ibrox club during his playing days.
Former Rangers player and manager Stuart McCall believes an Old Firm title decider should be avoided at all costs is possible.
The Scotland international midfielder explained his belief that even in this day and age it remains too risky to schedule such a game, simply as an entertainment spectacle, citing 1999’s ‘shame game’ as a reason to avoid such an encounter.
With the Scottish Premiership split about to take place, after the Scottish Cup semi-final matches this weekend, the SPFL could schedule the first game back as the Old Firm derby, and with Celtic only one in away from clinching the title, the Hoops could be crowned champions by defeating their old foe.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes scheduling the game at first chance would be right thing to do, with the world stage and shop window for Scottish football in mind. However, despite understanding what Rodgers was getting at, McCall believes it should not be risked.
According to the Daily Mail, the former Rangers boss said: “If you look at the bigger picture, there is no doubt it would be a powder-keg. We all saw what happened last time Rangers won it at Celtic Park.
“If they could avoid it, I think it’d be common sense to do so. Everyone knows up here the massive divide and aggravation that comes between Rangers and Celtic.”
McCall may have a point, especially considering that the game will be played off the back of another encounter between the two teams, which could see Celtic knock Rangers out of the Scottish Cup, following it up with a title clinching victory against their arch rivals.
There is no doubt that the importance of the game could cause quite the encounter on the pitch, but as McCall hinted, the potential repercussions are perhaps simply not worth it.
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