An independent review into crowd disorder at the Old Firm Scottish Cup quarter-final in March has delivered a scathing assessment, detailing a "wholly inexcusable" pitch invasion by Celtic fans and a subsequent "immediate hostile" counter-invasion by Rangers supporters.
The report, which landed four months after the incident, describes the events at Ibrox as "devastating" and catalogues a series of failures in security and policing that it says narrowly avoided life-threatening violence. Hundreds of Celtic fans without tickets reportedly breached security, leading to a chaotic scene where police took nearly five minutes to establish control.
Further details in the report highlight a range of concerning incidents. A steward at Ibrox was arrested for accepting payment to allow fans into the stadium during the match. A Celtic employee was assaulted by a masked Rangers fan, and a Rangers player reportedly experienced racial abuse. A coin struck a 10-year-old boy in the Celtic end, and a Celtic supporters' bus was attacked, leaving a fan unconscious. The Rangers mascot, Broxi Bear, also faced criticism for provoking Celtic fans.
The pre-game risk assessment had deemed a pitch incursion "unlikely," a conclusion the report says was one of several operational failures. Interviewees frequently used the word "complacency" to describe the approach.
Ultras Groups and Disciplinary Action
The review placed significant emphasis on the behavior of the clubs' Ultras groups, describing them as having the characteristics of organized crime gangs. The report criticizes the Old Firm clubs for their "reluctance to confront this dynamic," attributing it partly to the atmosphere these groups generate and partly to fear of repercussions.
It states that these groups possess "internal hierarchy, coordinated planning, operational security awareness, and the use of intimidation." The report concludes that such organized entities require an "intelligence-led, multi-agency response" from authorities and Police Scotland.
The review also addresses the disciplinary powers of the Scottish FA and SPFL, noting a consistent view among interviewees that these bodies have not used their full disciplinary capabilities. The report asserts that the existing rulebook allows for severe penalties, including financial penalties, points deductions, and expulsion, but questions whether there is the "will to use them."
"Section closure, not ticket reduction, should be the standard first-response for confirmed unacceptable conduct," the report recommends. The review suggests that without significant changes and a stronger resolve from football authorities, scenes of disorder witnessed at Ibrox and elsewhere are likely to persist.