Stadium closures

Rangers and Celtic pay penalty for crowd disorder

Ugly scenes: Fans invade Ibrox pitch

Celtic and Rangers have been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup ties behind closed doors.

The Scottish FA’s sanctions follow last season’s scenes which saw both sets of supporters invade the Ibrox pitch after Celtic’s penalty shoot-out win in the quarter-final of the competition.

The two clubs will also have to pay £100,000 to the visiting sides.

Celtic fans spilled onto the pitch in celebration after the winning spot-kick, Rangers fans responding by charging forward to confront them.

More than 40 arrests have been made in the wake of the ugly scenes.

Last month, the findings of an independent review into the incident were published, the report saying that “life-threatening violence” was narrowly avoided.

Celtic have hit out at what they claim is “disproportionate” punishment.

A statement from the Parkhead club 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. 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.”

The club said Celtic will be allocated just 300 tickets for next month’s Scottish League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox after receiving 8,000 for the 8 March Scottish Cup tie.

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.

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