Rangers warn everyone “must be prepared” to face “proper scrutiny” over the on-pitch clashes at Ibrox after Celtic beat them in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.
Four days on from the event, after both clubs were criticised by police for failing to speak out, Rangers broke their silence on the ugly scenes that marred Celtic’s shoot-out win.
The Glasgow club condemned the disorder and welcomed a Scottish FA-commissioned independent review after police officers were injured and fans arrested on Sunday.
Rangers say they “will represent the club and our supporters robustly” when cooperating with the authorities.
Spectators run onto the pitch at Ibrox
“The disorder that occurred on Sunday was unacceptable and we condemn it unequivocally,” a club statement read.
“There are now a number of serious issues which require proper examination. For that reason, we agree that there should be a fully independent review into the events surrounding the match.
“That review must be thorough and wide-ranging, examining the decisions and actions of all relevant parties. Its scope must include the broader context around this fixture, from the initial decisions on ticket allocations through to the sequence of incidents that followed the match.
“All parties must be prepared to have their actions and decision-making subjected to proper scrutiny.”
Police at Ibrox separating fans of Rangers and Celtic after they entered the pitch
Any fans that are identified and convicted of offences connected to the match will face “appropriate sanctions”, Rangers say, including “the potential withdrawal of ticketing privileges and stadium bans”.
However, Rangers add that they will “not accept a narrative that ignores the full context of what happened”.
“We recognise that many fans want the club to say more at this stage, and supporters should be assured that we are across the detail of the issues being discussed and the questions being raised,” the statement continued.
“However, it is important that we respect any ongoing investigative or judicial processes and do nothing that could prejudice them. There will be an appropriate time to address those matters fully.”
The statement added: “It is important that the reputation of Rangers supporters is treated fairly in this discussion.
“Tens of thousands of people attended Ibrox on Sunday simply to support their team with pride and to watch a football match.”
Rangers called out the “vile” and “cowardly” graffiti they discovered in the stadium referencing the Ibrox Disaster, which took the lives of 66 supporters in January 1971.
“What we can say now is that issues of stadium safety and the legacy of the Ibrox Disaster are deeply personal to this club,” the statement read.
“We were appalled to discover graffiti within the stadium referencing that tragedy. The memory of the 66 supporters who lost their lives in January 1971 deserves dignity and respect. To desecrate their memory is vile. It is cowardly. It is shameful.
“This is not football rivalry and it is not banter. It is the abuse of a tragedy that claimed 66 lives.”
