Rangers and Celtic have been hit with disciplinary charges over the trouble that followed their Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox.
The Scottish Football Association has issued identical notices of complaint to both clubs as it published the independent review into the game.
Both are accused of breaching the SFA’s Rule 37, which centres on “good order and security” and “unacceptable conduct”.
Celtic fans spilled onto the pitch at Ibrox
The rule covers “policies and procedures” and whether clubs take appropriate measures to identify and deal with supporters who engage in unacceptable conduct.
The clubs face hearings on August 13.
There were clashes on the pitch after Celtic won a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-final encounter on March 8.
Some visiting fans spilled onto the playing surface to celebrate after the winning spot-kick and more than 100 supporters from the Rangers end charged towards them with fireworks thrown back and forth.
At least 37 people have been arrested over the trouble, which saw police and stewards injured.
Police ‘petrified’ by Old Firm disorder
Police separated Celtic and Rangers fans at Ibrox following the Scottish Cup quarter-final
The match was the first time an allocation of away supporters at an Old Firm game was reinstated to 8,042 tickets – the largest away derby allocation since 2018.
For Premiership games, allocations had ranged from 2,000 to 2,500 following a two-year period when there were no away fans at the fixture.
The report, led by Mark Blackbourne, found: “The Celtic Ultras were the first to enter the pitch in jubilation, with others following their lead.
“In contrast, the Union Bears’ movement onto the track and towards the pitch was reactionary, confrontational, and overtly threatening. In both cases, the proximity of these groups to the playing surface materially increased the likelihood of a mass incursion and contributed to the rapid escalation of disorder.
“The post-match pitch invasion by several hundred Celtic supporters was wholly inexcusable. It provoked an immediate hostile response from sections of the home support, who forced past stewards and police to reach the pitch.”
It added: “A flare was thrown between the two groups six times – one striking an RFC security operative; the CCTV operator was also struck by a flare.
“[The] Stand Manager was confronted by a masked Rangers fan – assumed to be an Ultra group member – and hit in the face and hospitalised – the club’s Stand Manager (employee) is receiving ongoing treatment to the inner ear following a traumatic injury.”
Mr Blackbourne also noted it is “deeply disturbing” that a post-match Glasgow City Council Special SAG meeting recorded that time-served Police Scotland officers were described as “petrified” of policing another match at Ibrox Stadium.
He added: “That word must be read in context, not in isolation, but so qualified, it remains deeply disturbing for Scottish football.
“This reference demands the most serious attention from all parties with responsibility for the governance of safety and security at major football fixtures in Scotland.”
An injured steward is helped by police officers as fans invade the pitch at Ibrox
Interviewees independently described the organisational characteristics of certain Ultra groups in terms more commonly associated with organised crime groups in the report.
The report called for incidents linked to Ultra groups to come down with heavier sanctions from the clubs.
Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA chief executive: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank the Review Lead, Mark Blackbourne, for producing such a comprehensive independent review and accompanying recommendations, which we will consider in full and seek to implement the stated recommendations in conjunction with relevant stakeholders.
“Whilst this is now a live matter for an independent Judicial Panel to consider, the Scottish FA wishes to reiterate that the scenes witnessed during the cup tie, and subsequently investigated by our Review Lead, should have no place in our game.
“We will work together with the SPFL, clubs, Police Scotland and Scottish Government to ensure no repeat of the events that tarnished the image and reputation of the game.
Rangers question ‘limited examination’
In response, Rangers said it did not accept all of the report’s findings, including what it called “limited examination” of the decision to allocate around 8,000 tickets to Celtic, which “materially changed the risk profile of the fixture”.
“The independent review should have scrutinised the Scottish FA’s actions as robustly as those of clubs and other organisations. This is a significant omission.”
The club added: “We have no plans to restore historic Old Firm allocations at Ibrox.
“The disorder witnessed that day was unacceptable. The club unreservedly condemns those who forced entry, entered the field of play, engaged in violence, used pyrotechnics or threw missiles, vandalised the stadium, burned tifo materials or directed abhorrent abuse at the victims of the Ibrox Disaster.
“We recognise the distress caused to supporters, staff and others affected and the professionalism of the police officers and stewards as they restored order on the day.
“Rangers engaged fully with the independent review and accepts responsibility for the areas within the club’s control. We will implement the lessons learned and recommendations required to strengthen our arrangements. We expect the same accountability from others involved.”
Celtic will ‘seek to learn lessons’
Celtic interim chairman Brian Wilson said the report gave ‘food for thought and action’
In a statement, Celtic interim chairman Brian Wilson said: “This is a thorough piece of work which provides all parties involved with food for thought and action.
“We welcome the repeated emphasis on the primacy of safety above all other considerations, a message consistent with Celtic’s approach in all it does.
“Celtic made its strong objections to important elements of matchday planning very clear, well in advance of the match.
“While we remain in dispute regarding certain points within this review, our club does not shrink from criticisms contained in the report or the lessons to be drawn. Nobody should, since the potential implications of disregarding them are obviously serious, both for safety and for football.
“We continue to believe that the non-violent incursion by a small number of Celtic supporters following the conclusion of the Scottish Cup quarter-final was not, in itself, a major or threatening incident.
“However, the actions by a section of the home support, some of them masked and carrying weapons, and subsequent attacks on our supporters and staff, were deeply concerning and we remain puzzled as to why the actions recommended by the Safety Advisory Group of Glasgow City Council were overturned at a senior level within Police Scotland.
“This has left a vacuum in the role previously understood by consent to be occupied by the Safety Advisory Group. Accordingly, we welcome the recommendation that the status of Safety Advisory Groups should be formalised and strengthened.
“While this was, of course, an away fixture for Celtic, we will seek to learn lessons of value to our own operations and co-operate fully with the authorities in doing so.”
