Celtic and Rangers have lodged formal appeals against the Scottish Football Association's decision that mandates their upcoming home fixtures in the Scottish Cup be played without spectators. Both clubs are also contesting the £100,000 compensation fee they were instructed to pay the opposing side for the same match. The sanction stipulates that any further Scottish Cup encounter that experiences trouble will also be required to be held behind closed doors until the conclusion of the next season.
The disciplinary action stems from the quarter‑final clash between the two Old Firm rivals last season, a game that descended into chaos when supporters from both camps clashed on the pitch at Ibrox. Police Scotland responded by arresting 43 individuals after officers sustained injuries from missiles and pyrotechnic devices that were hurled onto the field. An appeal hearing is scheduled for 26 October, where the clubs will argue that the punishment is excessive and that the financial penalty is unjustified.
That quarter‑final was the first Old Firm meeting at Ibrox since 2018 to feature the full Broomloan Stand allocated to Celtic, which meant roughly 7,500 away fans were admitted in line with the Scottish Cup's ticket‑allocation rules. Some of those supporters even breached the away‑section barriers before kickoff.
By contrast, the league match between the two sides the following weekend saw a much smaller away allocation – about 2,500 Celtic fans – after the clubs reached an agreement to limit the visiting crowd to roughly five per cent of the stadium's capacity. This reduced figure reflected a broader trend over recent seasons of diminished or even zero away‑fan allocations for high‑risk fixtures. Celtic ultimately advanced to the semi‑finals after prevailing in a 4‑2 penalty shoot‑out, following a goalless draw at Ibrox.
The shoot‑out itself triggered a pitch invasion: a number of Celtic supporters spilled onto the playing surface to celebrate the winning spot‑kick, while fans from the Rangers end surged forward, exchanging fireworks and creating a volatile atmosphere. The police later confirmed a total of 43 arrests in connection with the disturbances at Ibrox. In response to the sanction, Celtic issued a statement describing themselves as "shocked" by what they termed a "disproportionate punishment".
Rangers, meanwhile, limited Celtic's ticket allocation to just 300 seats for their recent League Cup tie at Ibrox, citing an independent report commissioned after the March quarter‑final. Rangers added that, since that March fixture, there have been additional pitch invasions involving Celtic supporters, which they say justifies stricter measures.
Celtic rejected the proposal to drastically cut their away‑fan numbers, prompting the SPFL to intervene. The governing body concluded that, for the remainder of the season, no away supporters would be permitted at Old Firm encounters in both the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup. This decision underscores the ongoing concern about fan safety and the potential for violence at these high‑profile matches. An independent review of the March incident, led by Mark Blackbourne, warned that "crushing" and "life‑threatening" violence were narrowly avoided.
The report detailed that the Celtic Ultras were the first to rush onto the pitch in celebration, 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. Their proximity to the playing surface, the report argued, dramatically increased the risk of a mass incursion and accelerated the escalation of disorder. The review labelled the post‑match invasion by several hundred Celtic supporters as "wholly inexcusable" and noted that it provoked an immediate hostile response from sections of the home crowd, who forced past stewards and police to reach the pitch.
Blackbourne also highlighted a disturbing remark from a Glasgow City Council Special SAG meeting, where seasoned Police Scotland officers described themselves as "petrified" of policing another match at Ibrox. He stressed that this comment, while needing context, remains deeply unsettling for Scottish football and demands serious attention from all parties responsible for safety and security at major fixtures.
Interviewees in the report further characterised the organisational traits of certain Ultra groups using language more commonly associated with organised crime, urging that incidents linked to these groups be met with heavier sanctions imposed on the clubs. The findings call for a tougher regulatory framework and more robust enforcement to deter future disturbances.
Both clubs now await the outcome of the October appeal, hoping to overturn or at least mitigate the stadium‑closure order and the hefty fine. The broader debate continues over how to balance fan passion with public safety, especially in the fiercely contested Old Firm rivalry, which remains one of the most intense and closely watched fixtures in world football.