Rangers and Celtic have thus far shamefully kept silent on the appalling scenes which followed Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final clash at Ibrox.
Celebrating their side’s victory on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, dozens of visiting fans spilled onto the pitch before scores of Rangers supporters left the Copland Road end and began making their way towards the half-way line.
Caught in between missile-throwing rival fans – most of whom were members of ultras groups – police created a cordon until order was eventually restored.
The flashpoint, which is now the subject of police and SFA investigations, was widely condemned by politicians, PFA Scotland, safety officers and former players.
But despite the aftermath dragging the name of Scottish football through the mud, neither club have issued statements expressing their disapproval at what had unfolded.
Ultras from both side of the Old Firm staged a pitch invasion after the Scottish Cup tie
The game was the first in eight years to be played with 7,500 Celtic fans present – a throwback to the pre-2018 allocations for Glasgow derbies.
A long-standing dispute had seen between zero and 800 away fans present at league games at Parkhead and Ibrox before an agreement brokered by the SPFL last year saw that increasing to between 2,500 and 3,000.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill was among those who’d recently expressed hope that the bigger allocation for Sunday’s game – due to cup rules – would signal a return to that level in all matches.
However, chief superintendent Emma Croft all but ruled that out, saying that there would have to be a ‘conversation’ going forward about away allocations.
‘We need to start working through the numbers,’ she said. ‘But what I would categorically say is that that number of away fans for a Glasgow derby is not sustainable.’
Nine arrests have so far been made with more expected as the investigation continues.
Three men have been arrested and charged after footage from Helen Street in Glasgow showed a fan allegedly being attacked on a bus.
Three police officers were also injured with that number also expected to increase as officers begin to report back for duty. A 10-year-old boy was also struck by a coin.
CS Croft added: ‘If you want to be a fan, whether it be an ultra or a regular fan of your club, then I’m just asking you please abide by the rules and general societal norms.
‘I know you don’t have to portray that level of hatred and behaviour at a football match.’
She added that those wearing masks and balaclavas at games were ‘hell-bent’ on disguising their identity which makes identifying them harder for police and highlighted that the wearing of masks in stadiums is forbidden under ground rules.
Police were forced to intervene – with the scenes condemned strongly by the force afterwards
The officer said she was ‘satisfied’ by the police operation and that putting more police into football stadiums would take them away from their duties in the community.
Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, said the violence has no place in football, calling it ‘completely unacceptable’.
‘The violence after the Old Firm game yesterday at Ibrox was completely and utterly unacceptable – there is no justification for it whatsoever,’ he said.
‘What I want to make clear is the police have my full support in pursuing everyone involved in this incident, also that we will work constructively with the clubs – who must be horrified by the scenes that they witnessed – as well to address the situation, to work with the Scottish Football Association, to make sure that, collaboratively and collectively, we do all that we can to make sure that these types of incidents have no place in Scottish football.’
Fraser Wishart, chief executive of the players’ union, PFA Scotland, expressed his alarm that so many fans were on the pitch before the players had gone up the tunnel.
‘Player safety is not optional,’ he said.
‘It is not negotiable. A footballer’s workplace is the pitch.
‘What unfolded is yet another stark reminder of the escalating risks faced by professional footballers in Scotland simply for doing their jobs.
‘No employee in any other sector should be expected to tolerate threats, intimidation or physical danger while carrying out their duties and footballers cannot be treated differently.
‘This is not a phenomenon solely for the Old Firm.
‘Sadly, there have been incidents across the country many of which have led to clubs making strong condemnatory statements.
‘When players are placed at risk, the consequences extend beyond football.
‘There are serious questions raised about workplace safety standards and potential legal ramifications for clubs, governing bodies and individuals who fail to uphold their duty of care.
‘We welcome the Scottish FA and Police Scotland investigations, the findings of which must be made public.
‘There must be stronger protections and accountability with increased sanctions for individuals and clubs where player safety is compromised.
‘In addition, wider and more consistent use of Football Banning Orders for those who engage in violent, abusive or dangerous behaviour is required.’
