Both Celtic and Rangers have lodged formal appeals against the Scottish Football Association's decision to require the clubs to host their upcoming Scottish Cup home matches without spectators. The two Old Firm giants are also contesting the £100,000 compensation fee that the governing body ordered each club to pay to the opponent for the same fixture. The sanction stipulates that any future Scottish Cup match involving either side will be played behind closed doors if any incident of disorder occurs, and the rule will remain in effect until the conclusion of the next season.
The punishment stems from the quarter‑final clash last year, which descended into chaos when supporters from both clubs engaged in a violent confrontation on the pitch at Ibrox Stadium. Police Scotland responded to the unrest by arresting 43 individuals after officers were injured by missiles and pyrotechnic devices that were launched from the stands. An appeal hearing to review the decision has been scheduled for 26 October. That quarter‑final was the first Old Firm encounter at Ibrox since 2018 in which Celtic were allocated the entire Broomloan Stand, amounting to roughly 7,500 away supporters.
Some of those fans forced their way into the designated away section before kickoff, a move that was intended to satisfy the Scottish Cup's ticket‑allocation rules. By contrast, the league match between the two clubs the weekend before saw only about 2,500 Rangers supporters travel to Celtic, following a mutual agreement that each side would receive roughly five per cent of the stadium capacity for that particular game.
This reduced figure reflected a broader trend over recent seasons of limited or even zero away‑fan allocations for high‑risk fixtures. Celtic eventually advanced to the semi‑finals after winning a dramatic penalty shoot‑out 4‑2, following a goalless draw at Ibrox. The shoot‑out itself sparked a pitch invasion, with a number of visiting fans spilling onto the playing surface to celebrate the decisive spot‑kick. Rangers supporters from the home end surged forward, hurling fireworks back and forth, which escalated the tension further.
In total, 43 arrests have been recorded in connection with the Ibrox incident. In the aftermath, Celtic issued a statement describing the sanction as "shocking" and "disproportionate," arguing that the punishment did not reflect the shared responsibility for the disorder. Rangers, on their part, limited Celtic's ticket allocation to just 300 seats for a recent League Cup tie at Ibrox.
The club explained that this decision was based on an independent report commissioned after the March Scottish Cup quarter‑final, which highlighted ongoing concerns about pitch invasions involving Celtic supporters. Celtic rejected the proposal to drastically cut their fan numbers, prompting the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) to intervene.
The league ultimately ruled that no away supporters would be permitted at Old Firm fixtures in the Scottish Premiership and League Cup for the remainder of the season, a measure aimed at preventing further violence. An independent review of the March incident concluded that "crushing" and "life‑threatening" violence had been narrowly avoided. The inquiry, led by former police officer Mark Blackbourne, detailed how the Celtic Ultras were the first to rush onto the pitch in celebration, with other fans following their lead. In contrast, the Union Bears—Rangers' own ultra group—moved onto the track in a reactionary, confrontational, and overtly threatening manner.
Both groups' proximity to the playing surface, the report noted, significantly increased the risk of a mass incursion and accelerated the escalation of disorder. The review 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. Blackbourne also highlighted a disturbing comment recorded during a Glasgow City Council Special SAG meeting, where seasoned Police Scotland officers were described as "petrified" of policing another match at Ibrox.
While the phrasing was meant to be contextual, the report stressed that such a statement is 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 characterized the organisational structures of certain ultra groups using terminology more commonly associated with organised crime, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The authors called for harsher sanctions against clubs that fail to curb Ultra‑related incidents, urging governing bodies to impose heavier penalties.
Both clubs now await the outcome of their appeals, which could potentially overturn the closed‑door requirement and the hefty financial penalty. In the meantime, the Scottish football community continues to debate the balance between fan passion and public safety, with many stakeholders urging a collaborative approach that respects supporters' rights while ensuring that stadiums remain secure environments for players, officials, and spectators alike.