Old Firm derby capacity to be capped at 500 as Scotland imposes new COVID-19 restrictions

Celtic’s clash with Rangers on January 2 will only be attended by 500 spectators after a change in coronavirus measures in Scotland.

With COVID-19 cases rising across the United Kingdom, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the new restrictions on Tuesday.

The rules, which will be in place from Boxing Day, limit the amount of people allowed to attend public events.

Outdoor events have a capacity of 500, with each spectator having to have at least one metre of space between them.

The regulations will be in place for at least three weeks.

This effectively signals a return to behind-closed-doors games in Scotland, though the country’s competitions do take a winter break after January 3.

Celtic host champions and Premiership leaders Rangers a week after the regulations come into effect, while Hearts and Hibernian face off in the Edinburgh derby a day later.

On Monday, Premier League clubs confirmed they would not postpone a round of fixtures set to be played on December 28, 29 and 30 in England.