Rangers made an official announcement about the UEFA Youth League fixture against AZ Alkmaar, and it’s not one that fans will like.

While the supporters love watching the first team, there is a large majority of them who fondly keep tabs on the academy and games of the youth teams as well.

Rangers fans will not be able to watch AZ Alkmaar UEFA Youth League clash

The announcement from the Rangers Academy’s official X account landed with a thud for many supporters. The Under-19s’ UEFA Youth League third-round ties are confirmed, with the Light Blues set for a home first leg against AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday 25 November (7pm) at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling, with the return in the Netherlands on Tuesday 8 December.

For a group of supporters who have watched the young side fight their way through, this feels like a familiar let-down. Fans feel that the club talk about fans being invested in young talent, then make the games inaccessible, with the two fixtures not being broadcast anywhere.

RangersTV has provided highlights and interviews, but a live stream or proper coverage would let far more people engage without travelling midweek. UEFA.tv streams selected matches, and there are UK broadcast partners for the competition in general, but dedicated, accessible coverage for Rangers fans has been inconsistent.

The young players have earned the right to a proper platform, and deserve to have more eyeballs on them. In the last round of the competition, Rangers advanced past Dynamo Kyiv 5-3 on aggregate after a commanding 3-0 win in the second leg at the same Forthbank venue.

Lewis Stewart, Kyle Glasgow and Max Cameron all scored outstanding goals as Steven Smith’s side overturned a 3-2 first-leg deficit. Cooperation loan players from Queen’s Park and Alloa featured heavily and delivered, with the frontline in particular looking sharp and clinical.

Why is the game at Forthbank Stadium and not Ibrox?

Not showing the game live would have been fine had it been played at Ibrox. However, Forthbank Stadium is around 45 minutes from Glasgow by train or coach and has hosted recent UYL home ties.

However, there are two Scottish Premiership games on 24th and 28th at Ibrox, and they cannot play another match at the club’s home ground.