Rangers have been ordered to clamp down on the Union Bears following the mayhem that followed this month’s Old Firm clash at Ibrox.
Celtic’s victory on penalties in the Scottish Cup quarter-final on March 8 was marred by ugly scenes which were sparked by dozens of visiting fans spilling onto the pitch.
Scores of Rangers supporters, predominantly from the section in the Copland Road stand which houses the ultras group, then reacted by also entering the field of play and making their way over the halfway line towards a police cordon.
With missiles and flares being thrown, at least one fan was injured, with a number of arrests made.
Police Scotland described the disorder as ‘despicable’, while the SFA announced they will oversee a full review of the game’s shameful finale.
Daily Mail Sport understands that Rangers have now met with city authorities and agreed to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure there is no repeat.
Rangers ultras invaded the pitch following the Scottish Cup quarter-final with Celtic at Ibrox
On Monday, the club were called to a meeting of the Safety and Advisory Group – the body who advise Glasgow City Council on such matters.
Comprising of representatives of the council, buildings standards, police, fire and ambulance services, the group were given an assurance by club representatives that all possible measures would be taken to ensure fans would not enter the playing surface in future.
Although the club announced on Thursday that they had decided to delay the launch of season tickets for the 2026-27 campaign by around a week ‘following recent events’, it’s believed that this was not connected to any discussions with fan groups.
The powderkeg match was the first in eight years to see a ‘traditional’ visiting support allowed into an Old Firm game, with 7,500 Celtic fans in attendance on the day as a result of Scottish Cup ticketing rules.
But the disorder means there is unlikely to be a return to the days when between 7,000 and 8,000 tickets were handed over to the away team for league games.
That reciprocal arrangement fell by the wayside in 2018, with a tit-for-tat fight between Rangers and Celtic seeing between 800 and zero away fans admitted instead.
The Ibrox club will still be expecting to receive around 3,000 tickets when they travel to Parkhead after the Premiership split, with Celtic manager Martin O’Neill last week stating: ‘Rangers will be due their allocation and they’re entitled to it as well because it’s a league game. I don’t think anyone is arguing about that.’
The SFA are overseeing a full review after the ugly scenes at Ibrox earlier this month
Police had to form a cordon after Celtic and Rangers fans invaded the pitch after tie
In reference to Monday’s SAG meeting, a Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Following the crowd disturbance at the conclusion of the Rangers-Celtic Scottish Cup match on March 8, a meeting of the Ibrox Stadium Safety Advisory Group met to discuss safety issues within the ground.
‘The group includes Rangers Football Club, Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council and will continue to monitor closely all crowd safety issues within the stadium.
‘The safety of spectators within a stadium is ultimately a matter for the club concerned.’
Rangers issued a statement four days after the match which read: ‘The disorder that occurred on Sunday was unacceptable and we condemn it unequivocally.
‘Safety must always come first in football, for supporters, players and everyone working in and around the game.
‘We also want to recognise the efforts of the many staff, stewards and emergency services who operated in extremely difficult circumstances on the day.’
