MIKAEL Lustig has warned that locking out away fans when Celtic play Rangers will damage the world-famous fixture - and appealed to the Parkhead and Ibrox clubs to agree a return to the traditional allocation of tickets.
Lustig was disappointed when he learned the final two cinch Premiership matches between the Glasgow clubs this season will take place with only home supporters in attendance due to “safety and security” concerns.
The 94-times capped Swedish internationalist loved being involved in the derby games between the city rivals during the seven-and-a-half years that he spent as a player in Scotland.
The former right back admitted that scoring the final goal in a record-breaking 5-1 rout of Rangers at Ibrox in front of 7,000 delirious Celtic supporters back in 2017 was one of the highlights of his career.
Lustig, who watched his former club beat Hibernian 3-1 at Parkhead on Saturday, was saddened when Rangers reduced the number of vistiing fans who were allowed in to Ibrox to 700 in 2018 due to demand for season tickets.
The 36-year-old, who will be return to Glasgow “A Night with Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig” at the OVO Hyrdo on Thursday, May 18, would like to see a return to the former arrangement.
“It’s probably one of the best fixtures in the world,” he said. “Well, it was. So, for me, I just hope the away fans can come back. Because it makes that fixture really, really good and all the people around the world are talking about that fixture.
“I’m a bit scared that, if you take away the away fans, the fixture isn’t going to be as massive. I’m not sure whose decision it was, but hopefully we can have them back.
“My goal at Ibrox was obviously one of my favourite moments. To play there and beat them 5-1, and to score that goal, that was good. You need that rivalry in football. It’s the same in Sweden, you need the big rivalries with the big atmosphere. So hopefully we can get it back.”
Meanwhile, Lustig has admitted that he is pleased that Swedish football voted against the introduction of VAR in the wake of the Celtic match against Hibs at Parkhead at the weekend.
Fans of the Premiership leaders were furious on Saturday when referee Steven McLean awarded the visitors a penalty for a Carl Starfelt pull on Paul Hanlon and there were several other disputed decisions and lengthy delays.
“Sweden is the only country where we don’t have it,” he said. “The supporters didn’t want it.
“When you get a penalty that you maybe wouldn’t get before, you think it’s good. When it goes against you? I don’t know, I think I’m pretty 50-50.
“But I love that you can celebrate right away when you score a goal, because that’s it, it’s a goal. Now you see people scoring goals and waiting for a minute.
“If I need to choose, I’m against it. The clubs in Sweden voted against it. There is a 50 per cent rule in Sweden, so the supporters’ voices are quite clear. And they didn’t want it.”
