Old Firm disorder report damning - how will authorities respond?
Summary
An independent report analyzed crowd disorder at the Old Firm Scottish Cup quarter-final in March, criticizing both Celtic and Rangers football clubs, their fans, police, and football authorities. The report found that current punishments are too weak to stop dangerous fan behavior, and it suggests immediate measures like limiting crowd sizes instead of fines.Key Facts
- The report covers crowd trouble at the Old Firm match held at Ibrox in March 2024.
- Both Celtic and Rangers face disciplinary charges after fans invaded the pitch and clashed.
- The author, Mark Blackbourne, says current fines and penalties do not prevent bad fan behavior.
- He recommends starting punishments with crowd size restrictions, not just fines or warnings.
- The pitch invasion involved 8,000 visiting Celtic fans and a hostile response from Rangers supporters.
- Police took over four minutes to regain control, during which serious violence could have happened.
- Issues included fans breaking security without tickets, a steward caught accepting bribes, and several violent incidents.
- The report highlights growing safety fears among police and increasing unacceptable conduct by fan groups.
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