Celtic and Rangers have formally appealed the Scottish Football Association's decision to require both clubs to host their next Scottish Cup home games behind closed doors. The two Old Firm rivals are also challenging the £100,000 compensation fee that the governing body ordered them to pay each other for the contested fixture. The sanction stipulates that any future Scottish Cup match involving either side will be played without spectators if any incident occurs at a cup tie before the conclusion of the next season. This measure was introduced after the quarter‑final clash between the clubs last season, a game that descended into chaos when supporters from both camps clashed on the pitch at Ibrox Stadium.
Police Scotland responded to the disorder by arresting 43 individuals. The violence left several officers injured after projectiles and fireworks were hurled onto the police and stewards. 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, giving them roughly 7,500 away supporters. Some of those fans forced their way into the designated away end before kickoff, a situation that arose because the Scottish Cup's ticket‑allocation rules required a larger away‑fan quota for the tie. By contrast, the league fixture that took place a week earlier saw Rangers and Celtic agree to limit the away allocation to about five percent of the stadium capacity – roughly 2,500 fans – after several seasons of reduced or even zero away‑fan numbers due to previous security concerns.
In the quarter‑final, Celtic progressed to the semi‑finals after a 4‑2 penalty shoot‑out victory following a goalless draw at Ibrox. The conclusion of the shoot‑out triggered a pitch invasion by supporters from both sides. Some Celtic fans spilled onto the playing surface to celebrate the winning spot‑kick, while Rangers supporters from the home end surged forward, throwing fireworks back and forth, creating a volatile and dangerous environment.
The police later confirmed that a total of 43 arrests were made in connection with the disturbances at Ibrox. Celtic responded to the punishment by describing it as "shocking" and "disproportionate". In a separate incident, Rangers allocated only 300 tickets to Celtic for a League Cup tie at Ibrox later in the month. Rangers justified the limited allocation on the basis of an independent report commissioned after the March quarter‑final, which highlighted ongoing concerns about pitch invasions involving Celtic supporters.
The club argued that the decision was necessary to protect safety, especially after further incidents had been recorded since the March fixture. Celtic rejected the reduced allocation proposal, prompting intervention from the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). The SPFL ultimately ruled that no away supporters would be allowed at Old Firm matches in the Scottish Premiership and League Cup for the remainder of the season, a decision that underscores the severity of the security concerns surrounding the rivalry. An independent review, led by former police officer Mark Blackbourne, concluded that "crushing" and "life‑threatening" violence had been narrowly avoided during the March quarter‑final.
The report detailed how the Celtic Ultras were the first to enter the pitch in celebration, with other fans following their lead. In contrast, the Rangers "Union Bears" moved onto the track in a reactionary, confrontational, and overtly threatening manner. The proximity of both groups to the playing surface, the report warned, significantly increased the risk of a mass incursion and accelerated the escalation of disorder. The review described the post‑match pitch 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.
The document also highlighted the disturbing testimony from a Glasgow City Council Special SAG meeting, where veteran Police Scotland officers admitted they felt "petrified" at the prospect of policing another match at Ibrox. Blackbourne emphasized that such a statement, even when qualified, is deeply troubling 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 structures of certain Ultra groups in terms more commonly associated with organised crime, suggesting a level of coordination and intimidation that goes beyond typical fan behaviour. As a result, the review called for heavier sanctions to be imposed on clubs whose Ultra factions are involved in violent incidents, urging governing bodies to adopt stricter punitive measures.
Both clubs now await the outcome of the appeal hearing on 26 October, hoping to overturn or at least mitigate the restrictions that could see them forced to play without the support of their fans. The case highlights the ongoing tension between preserving the passionate atmosphere that defines the Old Firm rivalry and ensuring the safety of players, officials, and spectators.
Until a resolution is reached, the future of fan attendance at these high‑profile Scottish fixtures remains uncertain, with the potential for further legal and regulatory action depending on the appeal's result. The broader implications of the dispute extend beyond Glasgow, as other Scottish clubs watch closely to see how the authorities balance fan culture with public safety. The outcome may set a precedent for how future incidents involving Ultra groups are handled across the Scottish game, potentially influencing ticket‑allocation policies, stadium security protocols, and the overall approach to managing one of football's most intense rivalries.