Rangers And Celtic Address Fallout From Disorder At Ibrox

Tensions surrounding the aftermath of last weekend’s Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox have continued to reverberate across Scottish football, with both Rangers F.C. and Celtic F.C. issuing statements addressing the disorder that followed the match and the broader safety concerns raised by supporters and authorities.

Rangers confirmed they have spent the days since the fixture in discussions with staff, supporter groups and relevant authorities, including Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Football Association and the Safety Advisory Group. The club strongly condemned the disorder that occurred at the stadium, describing it as “unacceptable” and reiterating that safety must remain the foremost priority for supporters, players and staff.

The Ibrox club expressed support for a fully independent review into the events surrounding the match, arguing that any investigation should be comprehensive and examine the decisions and actions of all parties involved. Rangers said the scope of such a review should stretch from the original decisions regarding ticket allocations through to the incidents that unfolded after the match.

They also confirmed that where individuals are identified and convicted of offences connected to the fixture, the club will impose sanctions which could include the withdrawal of ticketing privileges and stadium bans. Rangers added that they would cooperate fully with regulatory authorities as investigations proceed, while also pledging to represent the interests of the club and its supporters.

In their statement, Rangers also condemned graffiti discovered within the stadium referencing the Ibrox Disaster, in which 66 supporters lost their lives in January 1971. The club described the act as “vile” and “shameful,” stressing that the memory of those who died deserved dignity and respect and should never be exploited in the context of football rivalry.

While acknowledging the seriousness of the incidents, Rangers emphasised that tens of thousands of supporters attended the match peacefully and warned against narratives that, in their view, fail to reflect the full context of the day’s events.

Across the city, Celtic said the club had been reviewing the circumstances surrounding the match and confirmed that interim chairman Brian Wilson had addressed a number of the issues in an interview with Celtic TV.

Celtic stated that the club had raised concerns about access arrangements at Ibrox prior to the match and had since met representatives of the Celtic Supporters’ Association, who reiterated what the club described as serious safety concerns. The Scottish champions said these issues would now be taken forward with Police Scotland, the Scottish FA and Rangers.

Wilson stressed that Celtic would cooperate fully with any review of the matchday events, including one announced by the Scottish FA, but insisted that any conclusions must be evidence-based.

“There are clearly serious issues to be addressed and examples of unacceptable behaviour which require appropriate responses,” the club said.

Celtic’s statement also addressed a separate issue involving the Green Brigade supporters’ group. The club confirmed it had been working with Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group in an effort to secure the group’s potential return to Celtic Park ahead of this weekend’s match against Motherwell.

According to the club, council officials indicated that several concerns must still be addressed before a pathway to re-entry can be established, particularly relating to supporter compliance with terms and conditions and the stewarding and safety operations within the section.

Celtic representatives have since outlined those requirements to Green Brigade members and encouraged their acceptance, with the club stating that cooperation with safety and security measures requested by Police Scotland and the Safety Advisory Group would be necessary before it could advocate for the group’s return.

Both clubs’ statements underline the seriousness with which the events surrounding the Ibrox fixture are being treated, with investigations and reviews now expected to determine what measures may be required to prevent similar incidents in the future.