The Scottish Football Association has formally charged both Rangers and Celtic following the disorder that erupted after their Scottish Cup quarter‑final at Ibrox. Identical notices of complaint were sent to each club alongside the publication of an independent investigation into the match.
The clubs stand accused of violating SFA Rule 37, which concerns the maintenance of "good order and security" and the prohibition of "unacceptable conduct" by supporters. Rule 37 obliges clubs to have robust policies and procedures in place and to take appropriate steps to identify and manage fans who engage in behaviour that threatens safety. A disciplinary hearing for both sides has been scheduled for 13 August. The incident in question occurred on 8 March when Celtic secured victory in a penalty shoot‑out.
After the winning spot‑kick, a group of Celtic supporters rushed onto the pitch to celebrate. Their celebration quickly turned hostile as more than a hundred Rangers fans from the home end surged toward them, exchanging fireworks and creating a volatile environment. Police and stewards were injured during the melee, and at least 37 individuals were arrested.
The match was notable for being the first Old Firm derby in recent years to allow a full allocation of away supporters—8,042 tickets—making it the largest away crowd at the fixture since 2018. Prior to this, the Scottish Premiership had limited away allocations to between 2,000 and 2,500 after a two‑year period during which no away fans were permitted at the derby. The independent report, led by Mark Blackbourne, detailed the sequence of events. It noted that the "Celtic Ultras" were the first to enter the pitch in a state of jubilation, with other fans following their lead.
In contrast, the "Union Bears"—the Rangers Ultra group—moved onto the track in a reactionary, confrontational, and overtly threatening manner. The proximity of both groups to the playing surface, the report argued, dramatically increased the risk of a mass incursion and accelerated the escalation of disorder.
The report described the post‑match pitch invasion by several hundred Celtic supporters as "wholly inexcusable" and said it provoked an immediate hostile response from sections of the home crowd, who forced past stewards and police to reach the field. It recorded multiple instances of flares being thrown between the two groups, one of which struck a Rangers security operative and another that hit a CCTV operator. A masked Rangers fan—identified as a member of the Ultra contingent—confronted the club's Stand Manager, striking him in the face and causing a traumatic inner‑ear injury that required ongoing medical treatment.
Perhaps most strikingly, the report highlighted that a special meeting of Glasgow City Council's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) documented that seasoned Police Scotland officers described themselves as "petrified" of policing another match at Ibrox. Blackbourne emphasized that this language, while needing context, remains deeply unsettling for Scottish football and demands urgent attention from all bodies responsible for safety and security at major fixtures. Interviewees in the investigation likened the organisational traits of certain Ultra groups to those commonly associated with organised crime, prompting the report to call for significantly tougher sanctions against clubs whose supporters engage in such behaviour.
Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell thanked Blackbourne for the thorough review and pledged that the governing body would consider all recommendations and work with the SPFL, clubs, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government to prevent a recurrence of the events that tarnished the sport's reputation. Rangers responded by disputing parts of the findings, particularly the "limited examination" of the decision to allocate roughly 8,000 tickets to Celtic, which the club argued fundamentally altered the risk profile of the match. The Rangers statement asserted that the independent review should have scrutinised the Scottish FA's actions as rigorously as it examined the clubs, calling this omission significant.
While rejecting the notion of reinstating historic Old Firm allocations at Ibrox, Rangers condemned the violence, pyrotechnics, missile‑throwing, stadium vandalism and abusive behaviour that marred the day. The club praised the professionalism of police and stewards, acknowledged its own responsibility for controllable aspects, and said it would implement the lessons and recommendations from the review, expecting similar accountability from others.
Celtic's interim chairman, Brian Wilson, described the report as a comprehensive piece of work that offers "food for thought and action". He welcomed the emphasis on safety above all else, aligning with Celtic's own priorities. Wilson noted that Celtic had raised strong objections to key elements of match‑day planning well before the game.
While still disputing certain points, Celtic does not shy away from the criticisms or the lessons to be learned, recognising the serious implications of ignoring them for both safety and the sport. The club expressed particular concern over the actions of a masked, weapon‑carrying segment of the home support and questioned why recommendations from the Glasgow City Council's Safety Advisory Group were overridden by senior Police Scotland officials, creating a safety vacuum.
Celtic supports the recommendation to formalise and strengthen Safety Advisory Groups and will cooperate fully with authorities while extracting valuable lessons for its own operations. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges of managing Old Firm derbies, where deep‑seated rivalries can quickly spill over into violence. It also highlights the need for clear, enforceable policies on ticket allocations, fan segregation, and rapid response to emerging threats. As the SFA prepares its disciplinary hearings, the football community watches closely to see how the governing bodies will enforce stricter standards and whether clubs will adopt more rigorous security measures to protect supporters, staff and the integrity of the game.