Celtic defeated Rangers on penalties in their Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox on March 8, according to multiple sources. The result sparked a pitch invasion from both sets of supporters, with dozens of Celtic fans spilling onto the Ibrox pitch after their side's victory. Scores of Rangers supporters left the Copland Road end and moved towards the halfway line, while hundreds of Rangers fans, including from the Union Bears ultras, charged towards the Broomloan Stand.
Police and stewards created a cordon across the park for about 10 minutes to keep fans apart, forming a human barricade between the two groups. Injuries occurred to police officers, stewards, and fans, including a 10-year-old child, and at least one fan was injured as missiles and flares were thrown. According to Emma Croft of Police Scotland, three or four injuries had been sustained by police officers during the trouble, but police expect that reported number to rise.
During the chaos, a member of Celtic's backroom team was assaulted and stewards were attacked. One man was arrested for an alleged assault on a Celtic player and coach. Celtic player Tomas Cvancara had blood stains on his strip after an incident, and Celtic right-back Julian Araujo was pushed by a Rangers supporter.
Police made nine arrests after rival fans clashed on the pitch, and police have made 17 arrests in their investigation. According to Emma Croft of Police Scotland, there have currently been nine arrests made but police expect that number to rise significantly. Three men were arrested and charged for a serious assault on Helen Street after the match, and Police Scotland launched a major incident investigation called Operation Moonglint.
The incident is subject to police and Scottish Football Association investigations, with the SFA commissioning an independent review. The Scottish FA appointed Mark Blackbourne to oversee their review of the disorder. Rangers have condemned the disorder at the Old Firm clash and backed a full independent review, according to a club statement. Rangers promised stadium bans for anyone convicted of offences related to the match, and Police Scotland described the scenes as 'despicable'.
Scotland's police chiefs met Rangers bosses to demand a crackdown on football louts, according to multiple reports.
Rangers are facing a hefty bill for significant damage to Ibrox, estimated at hundreds of thousands, due to graffiti and vandalism by Celtic fans, according to multiple reports. Graffiti mocked the 1971 Ibrox disaster where 66 Rangers fans died, and acts of vandalism and graffiti within the stadium are being investigated.
Flares were launched into the air, creating a highly toxic environment, according to research.
The match was the first since 2018 with a full allocation of away supporters, with 7,500 Celtic fans attending. The 7,500 away tickets given to Celtic for Sunday's match at Ibrox was to comply with Scottish Cup rules, according to research.
Celtic are set to host Rangers in the Scottish Premiership in the coming weeks, where around 2,500 visiting fans should be admitted. That figure is after an agreement between the clubs to provide tickets for five per cent of the stadium for league meetings, according to research. Police Scotland would not currently support another big away allocation for the next Old Firm fixture following trouble at Ibrox on Sunday. According to Emma Croft of Police Scotland, the larger allocation on Sunday is unlikely to be seen again going forward, as things stand.
Celtic fans attempted to gain entry using fake tickets, according to Rangers officials. In a separate on-field incident, Auston Trusty was accused of cheating by trying to get Youssef Chermiti sent off, according to Keith Hackett.
The exact financial cost of the damage to Ibrox Stadium and who will be held responsible for the repairs remain unknown. The total number of injuries sustained by police officers, stewards, and fans, and their severity, has not been fully confirmed, though police expect the count to rise.
What specific actions or measures will be implemented to prevent similar pitch invasions in future Old Firm matches is still under review. Whether the Scottish FA or police will recommend permanent changes to away fan allocations for all Scottish football matches, or only for Celtic vs. Rangers fixtures, is yet to be determined. What disciplinary actions, beyond stadium bans, will be taken against individuals arrested or identified as involved in the disorder is also pending investigation outcomes.