Rangers could ask the SPFL to fight on their behalf after Celtic shut their fans out of the New Year derby at Parkhead.
The Ibrox side are set to have no backing in the stands on January 2 after Hoops chiefs responded to their own supporters being locked out of Ibrox in August.
A late u-turn saw Celtic denied briefs for the opening derby clash of the season in Govan - despite initial talks proposing 700 away fans for the August 29 clash.
Covid regulations regarding red zones in stadiums meant there was no rules breach on that occasion.
But with the red zone requirement being scrapped last month it opens the door for Gers to turn to SPFL chiefs, with whom they are embroiled in a legal dispute over the cinch league sponsorship deal, to challenge any lockout at Parkhead.
Any club unhappy with an allocation of away tickets can seek a league determination with regular league rules stating that home clubs “must make provision for the admission of such reasonable number of visiting supporters for every league match”.
Livingston were backed by a small travelling support during Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Parkhead.
Celtic’s decision for a home only crowd on January 2 was revealed after a fans’ forum Q&A with Parkhead bosses including acting chief executive Michael Nicholson.
It’s the latest in a series of cuts to away allocations between the rivals.
Rangers reduced Celtic’s quota for Ibrox to just 800 in 2018 - a drop of 6000 - after announcing record season ticket sales.
The Parkhead club responded by only issuing 800 away tickets for Rangers for the Old Firm clash in September 2018 - adding the tit-for-tat was “not a development we welcome”.
Away numbers have never returned to normal and indeed were reduced to zero for the first derby of this season at Ibrox - a game Rangers won 1-0.
Plans for 700 Celtic fans at that match were ditched over concerns Celtic couldn’t guarantee an away allocation at the return fixture due to the covid red zones, at the time, still being in place.
A number of former players on both sides have slammed the lockout of away fans on derby day.
Ex-Gers captain and Record Sport columnist Barry Ferguson said earlier this season: “You walk out at Ibrox. If you’re a player, you look to your left and there’s 8,000 Celtic fans and the other three stands are full of Rangers fans.
“Get it back to being like that. And the same at Celtic Park, 8,000 Rangers fans travelling and supporting their team.
“It just disappoints me, if you asked all the ex-players they’d want the opposition fans there.
“It’s great when it’s just your own fans but me growing up and playing in it, it was special.
“Going over to take a corner kick, you were going over to the Broomloan and you knew you were going to get absolute pelters.
“But that’s what it was."
