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Page last updated at 14:54 GMT, Tuesday, 14 April 2009 15:54 UK

SPL decide Old Firm fixture date

Scott McDonald tussles for the ball with Kirk Broadfoot
The final Old Firm game will be played at Ibrox on 9 May

The final Old Firm of the season will be played at Ibrox on Saturday 9 May with a 1230 BST kick-off, the Scottish Premier League has confirmed.

The SPL held talks with Strathclyde Police and officials from both clubs, with all the parties keen to avoid a potential title-decider.

Celtic, who lead their rivals by a point in the table, will be without suspended midfielder Scott Brown.

But Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra will be able to play.

The Algerian international will miss the first match after the SPL split, while Brown's ban is for two matches.

The fixture was expected to take place immediately after the league split on the weekend of 2/3 May.

But it is understood police were reluctant for the game to be played then because of fears over bank holiday violence.

Sunday, 10 May was also ruled out as that is the date of the Glasgow Women's 10k, with the finishing line just a few hundred yards from Ibrox and 12,000 runners expected to take part.

The SPL will announce a full list of post-split fixtures shortly after the 33rd round of games this weekend.



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see also
Supporters split over SPL set-up
14 Apr 09 |  Scottish Premier


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