Celtic and Rangers ordered to play behind closed doors after Old Firm fan clashes
Celtic and Rangers have both been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup match behind closed doors after trouble marred a quarter-final tie between the Old Firm clubs at Ibrox.
Rangers and Celtic have been ordered to stage their upcoming Scottish Cup home matches without spectators following a pitch invasion during last season's Old Firm quarter-final. The clubs are prohibited from holding games with audiences should there be another incident involving supporters committing unacceptable behavior. The sanction, likely to apply when both teams advance to the Scottish Cup's fourth-round in mid-January, will see each club pay £100,000 to their respective opponents.
The disturbances originated from the chaotic scenes at Ibrox last year, where Celtic won 4-2 on penalties. Upon the final whistle, supporters from both clubs stormed the field, leading to 43 arrests. This was the first time Celtic had filled the Broomloan Stand in seven years, drawing approximately 7,500 away fans. The away following has since dwindled, with a recent league fixture drawing just 2,500 visiting supporters.
An independent review recommended that the Scottish FA implement stricter measures against crowd disorder, citing the proximity of supporter groups to the playing surface as a significant factor in the disorder.
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