Celtic and Rangers Ordered to Play Scottish Cup Matches Behind Closed Doors
Celtic and Rangers have been directed to hold their next home matches in the Scottish Cup without fans, following incidents of fan disorder during last season’s quarter-final. Each club will also be required to pay £100,000 to their opponents in that fixture.
Should either club’s fans engage in “unacceptable conduct” during future Scottish Cup matches, they could face a second home match without spectators. This decision comes after Celtic progressed to the semi-finals last season by defeating Rangers on penalties at Ibrox, an event that led to supporters from both sides storming the pitch.
The sanctions are set to take effect when both teams participate in this season’s Scottish Cup in January. In related news, Rangers have announced plans to provide Celtic with 300 tickets for the upcoming Scottish League Cup quarter-final, with Celtic having previously been allocated 8,000 tickets for the 8 March Scottish Cup tie.
Celtic ‘Shocked by Disproportionate Punishment’
Celtic has expressed their surprise at what they perceive as a disproportionate punishment for a relatively minor incident involving their supporters during a moment of emotional celebration. They stated, “Our club has never defended supporters entering the field of play and we have repeatedly taken action when it occurs. However, we understand the role 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 also responded to the decision, indicating that they would review the outcome fully, including its implications, before deciding on their next steps.
Sanctions Signal SFA Shift in Approach
The disciplinary actions result from the chaotic scenes that unfolded in March following Celtic’s penalty shootout victory. Fans launched fireworks and other items onto the field, incurred injuries to police officers, and prompted multiple arrests. Both clubs provided testimonies to an independent judicial panel after facing charges under the Scottish FA’s disciplinary rule 37, which addresses unacceptable conduct at matches.
An independent review released last month noted that the incident narrowly avoided escalating into a violent confrontation. The report, overseen by Mark Blackbourne, identified failures by both clubs and criticized the Scottish FA for not adopting stricter measures against crowd disorder in the past.
Historically, the SFA and SPFL have responded to similar issues with fines and reduced ticket allocations, but the gravity of these sanctions represents a notable shift in their approach. The report provided the governing body with the justification needed to adopt a tougher stance on growing concerns about fan conduct.
While both clubs have defended their actions in light of the sanctions, the SFA aims for these measures to convey a clear message: unacceptable behavior will no longer be tolerated.
Celtic and Rangers have both been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors after last season’s quarter-final was marred by fan disorder.
Both clubs will also have to pay £100,000 to the team they are drawn against in that fixture.
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The two clubs could also face a second home match without fans if there is a further incident of either side’s supporters engaging in “unacceptable conduct” in a Scottish Cup fixture.
Celtic progressed to last season’s semi-finals by beating Rangers on penalties at Ibrox, after which fans of both teams spilled on to the pitch.
The sanctions are likely to come into force when both sides enter this season’s Scottish Cup in January.
Meanwhile, Rangers say they will provide Celtic with 300 tickets for next month’s Scottish League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox.
Celtic had been given 8,000 tickets for the 8 March Scottish Cup tie.
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Celtic ‘shocked by disproportionate punishment’
Celtic said: “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.
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“We will study the panel’s report and reasoning when it is available and will thereafter consider our next steps.”
Rangers said: “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.”
Sanctions signal SFA shift in approach – analysis
The sanctions relate to the scenes in March after Celtic’s penalty shootout victory, when supporters threw fireworks and other missiles, police officers were injured and a number of arrests were made.
Both clubs gave evidence to an independent judicial panel after being charged under the Scottish FA’s disciplinary rule 37, which covers unacceptable conduct at matches.
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An independent review published last month concluded the incident came within a “very small margin” of becoming a violent mass confrontation.
The report, led by Mark Blackbourne, identified failings by both clubs and criticised the Scottish FA for not taking a tougher approach to crowd disorder.
In the recent past, the SFA and SPFL have handed down fines and, on occasion, reduced ticket allocations for issues such as the use of pyrotechnics, but the severity of this sanction signals a shift in approach.
The SFA has not escaped its share of the criticism by the independent review, but the panel’s report provided the governing body with the cover it needed to get tougher on an ever-growing problem.
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And while it comes as no surprise to see the clubs defending their positions, when the dust settles, the SFA will hope that these sanctions will send out a clear message that unacceptable conduct will no longer be tolerated.
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