Rangers and Celtic hit with stadium closures and heavy fines as SFA get tough following Ibrox shame game

The Scottish Football Association have ordered Rangers and Celtic to play their next Scottish Cup home ties behind closed doors as a punishment for the shameful violence which marred the Old Firm derby back in March.

Both clubs will also be forced to pay £100,000 to their opponents over the loss of ticket revenue after the SFA issued hefty sanctions and full stadium closures.

A section of Celtic supporters spilled on to the pitch to celebrate after their team had won the cup tie via a penalty shootout last season.

Rangers fans then ran on to retaliate, with flares and missiles being thrown, as well as police officers and stewards being assaulted. A ten-year-old child was also struck by a coin.

It was the first time a full allocation of just over 8,000 tickets had been made available to away fans, something which Rangers flagged up to the authorities amid obvious pre-match concerns.

In total, 37 arrests have been made thus far and the disorder led to an independent review being commissioned by the SFA.

The report, led by Mark Blackbourne, found that ‘life-threatening violence’ had been possible, and that a more serious catastrophe had only been narrowly avoided.

Blackbourne’s report was also critical of the football authorities for the lack of meaningful punishment dished out to clubs in the past over fan disorder.

But the SFA bucked that trend yesterday by taking the unprecedented move of ordering both Old Firm clubs to play their next Scottish Cup home fixtures behind closed doors.

It effectively represents a form of strict liability, something which Scottish clubs have consistently rejected in the past.

Celtic were the first to have their say – and they claimed they had been left ‘shocked’ by a ‘disproportionate’ punishment.

An official club statement read: ‘We are shocked by this disproportionate punishment for a relatively small incursion by Celtic supporters at a moment of emotion and celebration.

‘Our club has never defended supporters entering the field of play and we have repeatedly taken action when it occurs. However, we understand the part emotion plays in football and would have expected the context and distinction in behaviours to have been taken into account by the panel.

‘Another important distinction is that, on this occasion, Celtic were not the home club, responsible for stadium safety arrangements.

‘We will study the panel’s report and reasoning when it is available and will thereafter consider our next steps.’

Rangers responded later, acknowledging their sanction and revealing visiting Celtic fans would be granted only 300 tickets for the upcoming Premier Sports Cup tie at Ibrox.

An Ibrox statement read: ‘Rangers can confirm that the away allocation for the forthcoming Premier Sports Cup fixture at Ibrox against Celtic will be 300 tickets.

‘Since the clubs last considered away allocations, the Blackbourne Report has been published and our sanction issued. Together with the events of March 8 and our assessment of the current risk, these developments have informed our planning for this fixture. Matchday safety remains our top priority.

‘Since March 8, there have also been further pitch invasions involving Celtic supporters. The Blackbourne Report demonstrated how quickly an initial incursion can escalate into wider disorder involving both sets of supporters. Preventing another pitch incursion is therefore an important part of reducing the risk of further disorder at this fixture.

‘Following the recent cup draw, Rangers approached Celtic with proposals aimed at finding a sustainable way forward. Celtic responded eight days later, and that response did not address our concerns around accountability and deterrence.

‘Rangers has not seen the clear acknowledgement, condemnation or deterrent messaging we believe should follow events of that seriousness from Celtic.

‘We are willing to work constructively with all stakeholders and authorities involved in matchday safety for these fixtures. However, the risks currently identified will only be reduced through greater accountability, effective deterrence and constructive joint working.

‘We have previously raised concerns where risks identified by the club were not, in our view, given sufficient weight, including in relation to the increased away allocation for the 8 March fixture. Rangers will not be deterred from taking decisions it believes are necessary to protect our club, our stadium and our fans.

‘Finally, we note the decision of the Scottish FA Tribunal published today and will now consider the outcome in full, including its implications, before determining any further steps.’