Scottish Cup stadium bans
Celtic and Rangers face Scottish Cup closed-door bans and fines after disorder.
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Key Points
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An independent review published last month concluded there were failings at both clubs and also criticised the Scottish FA for not being tough enough in tackling such unrest.
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The £100,000 compensation payment is to be made to the away side drawn for the next home Scottish Cup fixture, rather than to a fixed recipient, aligning with the draw for that match.
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The disciplinary case stemmed from on-pitch disorder after the quarter-final at Ibrox, with ultras groups Union Bears and Green Brigade involved and dozens of arrests; specialist anti-terrorism officers were among those involved in the probe.
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Approximately 7,000 Celtic fans were in attendance as part of the away allocation at Ibrox, marking a rare instance in recent Old Firm fixtures of away fans receiving a full allocation.
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Both Celtic and Rangers admitted charges relating to unacceptable conduct from supporters during the incident.
Celtic and Rangers face identical penalties for crowd disorder at an Ibrox quarter-final last season. Both clubs must play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors and pay £100,000 to the visiting side to cover lost gate receipts, Reuters reported. The Scottish FA warned that further crowd trouble before the end of the 2027-28 season could trigger additional closed-door punishments.
An independent review concluded that crushing and life-threatening violence were narrowly avoided during the incident. Belfast Telegraph noted the review also criticized the Scottish FA for not being tough enough in tackling such unrest. Celtic called the punishment disproportionate, saying they are not responsible for stadium safety, though the club acknowledged emotion's role in football.
Disorder Erupts After Ibrox Quarter-Final
On-pitch disorder broke out after Celtic's 4-2 penalty shootout victory at Ibrox. Ultras groups Union Bears and Green Brigade were involved, leading to dozens of arrests. Flashscore reported that specialist anti-terrorism officers participated in the investigation. About 7,000 Celtic fans attended as part of the away allocation — a rare full allocation in recent Old Firm cup fixtures.
Both clubs admitted charges of unacceptable conduct from supporters during the incident. The independent review found failings at both Celtic and Rangers. The Scottish FA's initial response drew criticism for being insufficiently strict.
Financial Penalty Aims for Revenue Protection
Each club must pay £100,000 to whoever they face in their next home Scottish Cup match. Reuters explained the payment compensates the away side for lost ticket revenue when matches play behind closed doors. The amount will transfer to the visiting club drawn for that fixture, not a fixed recipient.
Threat of Extended Sanctions Looms
The closed-door penalty applies to both clubs' next Scottish Cup home matches. If crowd trouble recurs before August 2028, the Scottish FA could impose a second closed-door punishment. Belfast Telegraph reported this creates a formal deterrent against future unrest at Old Firm fixtures. The extended warning period stretches across multiple seasons.
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