The Scottish Football Association has served formal complaints to both Rangers and Celtic regarding the chaotic scenes that unfolded during their Scottish Cup quarter-final in March. Both football clubs are accused of violating rule 37, which pertains to the maintenance of security and the prevention of unacceptable behavior among supporters.
Following a penalty shoot-out victory for Celtic on March 8, visiting fans entered the field, triggering a confrontation with home supporters and the exchange of fireworks. The resulting disorder led to at least 37 arrests and left several police officers and stewards injured. An independent review by Mark Blackbourne characterized the incident as a near miss, warning that it narrowly avoided turning into a mass violent confrontation. The report highlights that crushing incidents were a foreseeable risk caused by unauthorized fan groups breaching security lines.
The review further argues that current disciplinary frameworks fail to hold clubs sufficiently accountable for the actions of their fans. It urges the SFA to implement more rigorous sanctions, noting that the governing body has historically underutilized its disciplinary powers. SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell stated that the organization is committed to collaborating with clubs and the Scottish government to prevent future occurrences of such behavior.
