The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has formally charged both Rangers and Celtic following the disorder that erupted after their Scottish Cup quarter‑final at Ibrox on March 8. Identical complaints have been served on each club alongside the publication of an independent investigation into the events. The allegations centre on a breach of SFA Rule 37, which governs "good order and security" and condemns "unacceptable conduct" by supporters. Rule 37 requires clubs to have robust policies and procedures in place and to take appropriate steps to identify and deal with fans who engage in violent or disruptive behaviour.
Both clubs are now scheduled to appear before a disciplinary panel on 13 August. The panel will examine whether Rangers and Celtic failed to meet their obligations under the rule, and what sanctions, if any, should be imposed.
The trouble began in the closing stages of the match, when Celtic emerged victorious after a penalty shoot‑out. As the winning spot‑kick was taken, a number of Celtic supporters rushed onto the pitch to celebrate. Their incursion was quickly mirrored by a larger group of Rangers fans from the home end, who surged forward, hurling fireworks and creating a volatile atmosphere that threatened to spill over into a full‑scale clash.
Police and stewards were forced to intervene, and at least 37 individuals were arrested as the situation escalated. More than 100 Rangers supporters charged towards the pitch, and both sides exchanged pyrotechnics. The violence resulted in injuries to police officers, stewards, and a security operative who was struck by a flare. A stand manager was also assaulted by a masked Rangers fan, sustaining a facial injury and inner‑ear trauma that required ongoing medical treatment.
The match was notable for being the first Old Firm fixture in which the away allocation was restored to 8,042 tickets – the largest number of visiting fans allowed at a derby since 2018. For the previous two seasons, away allocations had been limited to between 2,000 and 2,500 after a period when no away supporters were permitted at the stadium. The decision to increase the number of Celtic fans present dramatically altered the risk profile of the event, a point contested by Rangers in their response to the report.
The independent review, led by former police officer Mark Blackbourne, painted a stark picture of how the incident unfolded. Blackbourne noted that the "Celtic Ultras" were the first to enter the field in jubilation, with other fans following their lead.
In contrast, he described the movement of the "Union Bears" – a Rangers‑linked group – onto the track as "reactionary, confrontational, and overtly threatening." He warned that the proximity of both groups to the playing surface significantly increased the likelihood of a mass incursion and accelerated the rapid escalation of disorder. According to the report, the post‑match pitch invasion involved several hundred Celtic supporters and was deemed "wholly inexcusable." Their presence provoked an immediate hostile response from sections of the home crowd, who forced past stewards and police to reach the pitch. The report recorded six instances in which a flare was thrown between the two groups, one of which struck a Rangers security operative and another hitting a CCTV operator. Perhaps most unsettling was the observation that a senior meeting of Glasgow City Council’s Special Safety Advisory Group (SAG) recorded that some experienced Police Scotland officers described themselves as "petrified" of policing another match at Ibrox.
Blackbourne stressed that this comment must be read in context, but nonetheless called it "deeply disturbing" for Scottish football and urged that it receive the highest level of attention from all bodies responsible for safety at major fixtures. Interviewees in the report likened the organisational characteristics of certain Ultra groups to those of organised crime syndicates, highlighting the seriousness of the threat they pose.
The review recommended that incidents involving Ultra groups be met with harsher sanctions imposed on the clubs, and that the status of Safety Advisory Groups be formalised and strengthened to prevent a repeat of the failures observed on the night. Ian Maxwell, chief executive of the SFA, praised the thoroughness of Blackbourne’s work and pledged to consider all recommendations in full, working closely with the SPFL, clubs, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government.
He reiterated that the scenes witnessed at Ibrox "should have no place in our game" and affirmed a commitment to preventing a recurrence. Rangers responded by rejecting several findings of the report.
The club argued that the investigation offered a "limited examination" of the decision to allocate roughly 8,000 tickets to Celtic, a move that fundamentally changed the fixture’s risk profile. Rangers also criticised the review for not scrutinising the Scottish FA’s actions with the same rigor applied to the clubs. Nonetheless, the club condemned the disorder, praised the professionalism of police and stewards, and said it would implement the lessons and recommendations that fell within its control, while expecting similar accountability from others. Celtic’s interim chairman, Brian Wilson, described the report as a "thorough piece of work" that provides valuable food for thought.
He welcomed the emphasis on safety above all else, a principle that aligns with Celtic’s own policies. While the club remains in dispute over certain aspects of the match‑day planning and the review’s conclusions, Wilson insisted that Celtic does not shy away from criticism or the lessons to be learned. He argued that the non‑violent incursion by a small number of Celtic supporters was not a major threat, but condemned the masked, weapon‑carrying section of the home support and questioned why the Safety Advisory Group’s recommendations were overruled by senior Police Scotland officials. Both clubs have pledged to cooperate fully with the authorities and to strengthen their security arrangements.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the future of away allocations at Old Firm derbies, the role of Ultra groups in Scottish football, and the need for clearer, enforceable safety protocols at high‑risk matches. As the disciplinary hearings approach, the football community will be watching closely to see how the SFA balances punitive measures with the imperative to protect fans, staff and the integrity of the sport.