Both Celtic and Rangers have lodged appeals against the Scottish Football Association's decision that mandates their upcoming home Scottish Cup matches be played without spectators. In addition to challenging the requirement for the matches to be held behind closed doors, the two clubs are also contesting the £100,000 compensation fee each was ordered to pay the opposing side for the affected fixture.
The sanction stipulates that any further Scottish Cup game involving either club will be required to be played in an empty stadium if any form of trouble occurs at a cup match before the conclusion of the next season. This punitive measure stems from the quarter‑final clash between the Old Firm rivals last season, a game that descended into chaos when supporters from both sides engaged in violent confrontations on the pitch at Ibrox.
Police Scotland responded to the disturbance by arresting 43 individuals, a figure that includes several officers who were injured after being struck by missiles and incendiary devices thrown by fans. An appeal hearing to review the decision has been scheduled for 26 October. The match in question was the first Old Firm encounter at Ibrox since 2018 in which Celtic were allocated the entire Broomloan Stand.
This arrangement meant roughly 7,500 Celtic supporters were permitted to travel to the stadium, in accordance with Scottish Cup ticket‑allocation rules. Even before kickoff, a number of those fans breached the barriers surrounding the away end, further heightening tensions. By contrast, the league fixture that took place a week earlier between the two clubs saw only about 2,500 away fans at Ibrox.
That reduced figure resulted from a mutual agreement between Celtic and Rangers to limit the away allocation to roughly five percent of the stadium’s capacity for that particular game. The reduced numbers reflected a broader trend over recent seasons in which away‑fan allocations have been cut back dramatically, and on some occasions completely eliminated.
Celtic ultimately progressed to the semi‑finals after prevailing in a dramatic penalty shoot‑out, winning 4‑2 after a goalless draw at Ibrox. The conclusion of the shoot‑out triggered a pitch invasion by supporters from both clubs.
Some Celtic fans spilled onto the playing surface to celebrate the decisive spot‑kick, while Rangers supporters from the home end surged forward, hurling fireworks back and forth, creating a volatile and dangerous environment. The aftermath of the incident saw a total of 43 arrests, confirming the seriousness of the disorder. In response to the sanction, Celtic issued a statement describing the punishment as "shocking" and "disproportionate".
Rangers, meanwhile, limited Celtic’s ticket allocation to a mere 300 seats for their League Cup tie at Ibrox later that month. The club explained that the decision was based on an independent report commissioned after the March quarter‑final, which also highlighted subsequent pitch invasions involving Celtic supporters. Celtic rejected the reduced allocation, prompting the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) to intervene. The league ultimately decided that no away supporters would be allowed at any Old Firm matches for the remainder of the season, covering both the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup.
An independent review of the March incident concluded that "crushing" and "life‑threatening" violence had been narrowly avoided. The review, led by former police officer Mark Blackbourne, detailed how the Celtic Ultras were the first to flood the pitch in celebration, with other fans following their lead.
In contrast, the Union Bears – the Rangers Ultra group – moved onto the track and toward the pitch in a reactionary, confrontational, and overtly threatening manner. Both groups’ proximity to the playing surface, the report noted, dramatically increased the risk of a mass incursion and accelerated the escalation of disorder.
Blackbourne’s findings also described 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 officers to reach the field. The report highlighted that a special meeting of Glasgow City Council’s Safety Advisory Group recorded that even seasoned Police Scotland officers were "petrified" of policing another match at Ibrox, a sentiment that Blackbourne called "deeply disturbing" for Scottish football.
He argued that such statements demand serious attention from all parties responsible for the safety and security of major football events in Scotland. Interviewees in the review also likened the organisational characteristics of certain Ultra groups to those of organised crime syndicates, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Consequently, the report called for stricter sanctions against clubs that fail to control Ultra‑related incidents. Both clubs are now preparing for the October appeal, hoping to overturn or at least mitigate the severe restrictions imposed on their supporters. The outcome will have significant implications not only for the clubs’ finances – given the loss of ticket revenue – but also for the broader fan culture surrounding the Old Firm rivalry, which has long been a cornerstone of Scottish football identity.
In the meantime, the Scottish football authorities continue to grapple with how best to balance passionate support with public safety, a challenge that has become increasingly complex as Ultra groups gain prominence across Europe. The resolution of this case may set a precedent for how future incidents involving large, organized fan factions are managed, potentially shaping policy on stadium security, ticket allocations, and disciplinary measures for years to come. The situation remains fluid, and supporters on both sides are watching closely, hoping for a resolution that restores a sense of fairness while ensuring that future matches can be enjoyed safely by all who attend.