Guard of honour: Barry Ferguson and Brendan Rodgers differ on 'tradition'

Rangers and Celtic have taken differing views on whether there should be a guard of honour for the Premiership champions ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm derby.

Celtic secured their fourth consecutive title against Dundee United last weekend, prompting some to ask whether Rangers would applaud the league winners on to the pitch at Ibrox this weekend.

There’s no real precedent for one of the rivals giving the other a guard of honour in these circumstances, though Rangers did applaud Celtic in 1964 after they made progress in Europe.

The sides have met immediately after the other has clinched the title in recent years, with 2019 and 2021 having brought similar discussion but neither side having shown the gesture.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes it’s a tradition in British football that should be upheld.

“It’s not in the rules that you have to do it,” he said.

“And I think that when it’s two teams and the rivalry is so emotional, it’s always difficult for the team that comes up short.

“I’m relaxed either way on it. I’m a little bit of a traditionalist where, there’s a lot of things going out of our game over on these isles that’s moving away from the traditions of the great managers and people that ran our game and were successful in our game.

“I always think showing that humility to the other team, no matter the rivalry, it’s a mark of respect.

“But like I said, Celtic-Rangers, it’s an emotional rivalry.

“And if you’re up short and you come up short quite a lot, then it can be a challenge for you to justify that to supporters.

“Like I said, I’m a traditionalist and these are things that have been in our game for many years but I’m relaxed about it.”

Rangers manager Barry Ferguson, who won titles as a Rangers player, says he doesn’t understand why there’s even a discussion.

“I’ve been asked quite a few times about this, it’s never happened in the past,” he said.

“I don’t know why there’s always a big clamour about a guard of honour.

“It’s never happened whether it’s Celtic, whether it’s Rangers, and I think it will always just remain that way.

“Celtic are champions for a reason, because they have been the most consistent throughout the season, we haven’t, but in terms of a guard of honour, I don’t see that.”