'Police petrified and ultras like organised crime groups': SFA publish Old Firm disorder review

Key Points

SFA publish independent review of Scottish Cup quarter-final disorder
Police described as ‘petrified’ of policing another match at Ibrox
Fans entering the pitch ‘wholly inexcusable’
Clubs urged to impose higher sanctions as bans ‘ineffective’
Rangers ‘don’t accept’ certain findings in report
Ultras like ‘organised crime groups’

The SFA has published a review into disorder at an Old Firm game in March that led to dozens of arrests and pitch invasions.

Ugly scenes erupted at Ibrox on March 8 after Celtic knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup at the quarter-final game.

Fans from both sets of supporters came onto the field, leading to police, stewards and players being assaulted and flares being thrown.

Police Scotland, through Operation Moonglint, has made 37 arrests to date in connection with the disorder.

It was the first time an allocation of away supporters at an Old Firm game was reinstated to 8,042 tickets for Celtic – the largest away derby allocation since 2018.

In recent Premiership seasons, allocations had ranged from 2,000 to 2,500, following a two-year period when there were no away fans at the fixture.

In the report, led by Mark Blackbourne, it found that the four minutes and twenty-eight seconds for the Police to re-establish control was a period in which “life-threatening violence” was possible.

It also found 24 more officers were deployed for the fixture in comparison to the week prior, in which the two teams faced off at Ibrox but with a significantly reduced away allocation. On both match days, 111 officers were deployed inside the stadium.

It added: “The Celtic Ultras were the first to enter the pitch in jubilation, with others following their lead.

“In contrast, the Union Bears’ movement onto the track and towards the pitch was reactionary, confrontational, and overtly threatening. In both cases, the proximity of these groups to the playing surface materially increased the likelihood of a mass incursion and contributed to the rapid escalation of disorder.”

It continued: “The post-match pitch invasion by several hundred Celtic supporters was wholly inexcusable. It provoked an immediate hostile response from sections of the home support, who forced past stewards and police to reach the pitch.”

It added: “A flare was thrown between the two groups six times – one striking an RFC security operative; the CCTV operator was also struck by a flare.

“[The] Stand Manager was confronted by a masked Rangers fan – assumed to be an Ultra group member – and hit in the face and hospitalised – the club’s Stand Manager (employee) is receiving ongoing treatment to the inner ear following a traumatic injury.”

Mr Blackbourne also noted it is “deeply disturbing” that a post-match Glasgow City Council Special SAG meeting recorded that time-served Police Scotland officers were described as “petrified” of policing another match at Ibrox Stadium.

He added: “That word must be read in context, not in isolation, but so qualified, it remains deeply disturbing for Scottish football.

“This reference demands the most serious attention from all parties with responsibility for the governance of safety and security at major football fixtures in Scotland.”

Interviewees independently described the organisational characteristics of certain Ultra groups in terms more commonly associated with organised crime groups in the report.

The report called for incidents linked to Ultra groups to come down with heavier sanctions from the clubs.

Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA chief executive: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank the Review Lead, Mark Blackbourne, for producing such a comprehensive independent review and accompanying recommendations, which we will consider in full and seek to implement the stated recommendations in conjunction with relevant stakeholders.

“Whilst this is now a live matter for an independent Judicial Panel to consider, the Scottish FA wishes to reiterate that the scenes witnessed during the cup tie, and subsequently investigated by our Review Lead, should have no place in our game.

“We will work together with the SPFL, clubs, Police Scotland and Scottish Government to ensure no repeat of the events that tarnished the image and reputation of the game.

“We will also seek to reassure the majority of fans who attend matches responsibly that showpiece occasions such as these should be enjoyed safely in future.”

In response, Rangers said it did not accept all of the report’s findings, including what it called “limited examination” of the decision to allocate around 8,000 tickets to Celtic, which “materially changed the risk profile of the fixture”.

“The independent review should have scrutinised the Scottish FA’s actions as robustly as those of clubs and other organisations. This is a significant omission.”

The club added: “We have no plans to restore historic Old Firm allocations at Ibrox.”

The statement continued: “The disorder witnessed that day was unacceptable. The club unreservedly condemns those who forced entry, entered the field of play, engaged in violence, used pyrotechnics or threw missiles, vandalised the stadium, burned tifo materials or directed abhorrent abuse at the victims of the Ibrox Disaster.

“We recognise the distress caused to supporters, staff and others affected and the professionalism of the police officers and stewards as they restored order on the day.

“Rangers engaged fully with the independent review and accepts responsibility for the areas within the club’s control. We will implement the lessons learned and recommendations required to strengthen our arrangements. We expect the same accountability from others involved.”

Rivals, Celtic, said it made “strong objections to important elements of matchday planning very clear, well in advance” of the clash at Ibrox.

The club added: “While we remain in dispute regarding certain points within this review, our club does not shrink from criticisms contained in the report or the lessons to be drawn.

“Nobody should, since the potential implications of disregarding them are obviously serious, both for safety and for football.”

The Hoops described the initial incursion of away fans following the final whistle as “not, in itself, a major or threatening incident.”

However; the Glasgow side deemed the home support’s pitch invasion as “deeply concerning”.

The statement read: “We remain puzzled as to why the actions recommended by the Safety Advisory Group of Glasgow City Council were overturned at a senior level within Police Scotland.

“This has left a vacuum in the role previously understood by consent to be occupied by the Safety Advisory Group. Accordingly, we welcome the recommendation that the status of Safety Advisory Groups should be formalised and strengthened.”

The report also noted that both clubs have been charged by the SFA’s disciplinary panel and will appear in hearings next month.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said: “The Chief Constable has been clear there is a lot of work to be done by stakeholders across Scotland, and we will continue to engage with the clubs and football authorities on the recommendations contained in the report.”