Celtic and Rangers have formally appealed the Scottish Football Association's decision that forces each club to host its next home Scottish Cup match without spectators. The two Old Firm giants are also contesting the £100,000 compensation fee that the governing body ordered them to pay the opposing side for the same fixture. The sanction stipulates that any future Scottish Cup game involving either club will be played behind closed doors if any incident occurs, and the rule will remain in effect until the conclusion of the next season. This punitive measure stems from the quarter‑final clash between the rivals last season, a match that descended into chaos when supporters from both sides engaged in violent confrontations on the pitch at Ibrox Stadium.
Police Scotland responded to the disorder by arresting 43 individuals after officers were injured by missiles and pyrotechnic devices thrown onto the field. An appeal hearing to review the decision has been scheduled for 26 October. The encounter at Ibrox was the first Old Firm meeting at the venue since 2018. For that game, Celtic were allocated the entire Broomloan Stand, which meant roughly 7,500 away fans were permitted to attend, in accordance with Scottish Cup ticket‑allocation rules.
In the lead‑up to kickoff, some of those supporters managed to breach the barriers surrounding the away end. By contrast, the league match that took place the weekend before featured a much smaller away contingent – about 2,500 Celtic fans – after the clubs reached an agreement to limit the away allocation to roughly five per cent of the stadium’s capacity.
This reduction reflected a broader trend over recent seasons in which away fan numbers have been progressively curtailed, and in some cases completely excluded. Celtic eventually progressed to the semi‑finals after a dramatic penalty shoot‑out victory over Rangers, winning 4‑2 following a goalless draw at Ibrox.
The shoot‑out was punctuated by a pitch invasion from supporters of both clubs. After Celtic’s winning spot‑kick, a number of visiting fans spilled onto the playing surface to celebrate, prompting a contingent of Rangers supporters to charge toward them, with fireworks being exchanged between the two groups. The police later confirmed that the total number of arrests related to the Ibrox incident had risen to 43. In response to the sanction, Celtic issued a statement describing the punishment as "shocking" and "disproportionate".
Rangers, meanwhile, limited Celtic’s ticket allocation to just 300 seats for their subsequent League Cup tie at Ibrox. The Rangers board justified the decision by citing an independent report commissioned after the March Scottish Cup quarter‑final, which highlighted ongoing concerns about pitch invasions involving Celtic fans.
The report’s findings prompted the SPFL to intervene, ultimately deciding that no away supporters would be allowed at Old Firm fixtures in the Scottish Premiership and League Cup for the remainder of the season. The independent review, led by former police officer Mark Blackbourne, warned that "crushing" and "life‑threatening" violence had been narrowly avoided.
Blackbourne’s analysis detailed how Celtic’s Ultras were the first to flood the pitch in celebration, with other fans following their lead. In contrast, the Rangers‑affiliated "Union Bears" entered the track in a reactive, confrontational manner that escalated the tension. Both groups’ proximity to the playing surface, the report argued, significantly increased the risk of a mass incursion and accelerated the disorder.
The review 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 to reach the field. Blackbourne highlighted a particularly unsettling remark from a Glasgow City Council Special SAG meeting, where veteran Police Scotland officers were described as "petrified" of policing another match at Ibrox. He stressed that, while the comment should be read in context, it nonetheless signals a deep‑seated concern for the safety of future fixtures. Interviewees in the report likened the organisational structure of certain Ultra groups to that of organised crime syndicates, urging football authorities to impose heavier sanctions on clubs that fail to curb Ultra‑related incidents.
The findings have intensified the debate over how best to balance fan passion with public safety, especially in high‑stakes Old Firm encounters that traditionally draw large, fervent crowds. Both clubs now await the outcome of their appeals, which could reshape ticket allocations, financial penalties, and the broader approach to crowd management in Scottish football. The decision will also set a precedent for how the Scottish FA and the SPFL handle future incidents involving ultra‑aggressive fan behaviour, potentially influencing policies across the United Kingdom and beyond. In the meantime, the clubs continue to navigate a complex landscape of supporter expectations, security requirements, and regulatory scrutiny, all while striving to preserve the competitive spirit that defines one of the world’s most storied rivalries.