Rangers and Celtic urged to withhold tickets and banish ultras groups in wake of violent Ibrox clashes
A number of police officers and members of the public were injured as hundreds of Celtic and Rangers supporters stormed the pitch at Ibrox
A Police Scotland chief has criticised Celtic and Rangers for failing to condemn their fans’ behaviour during last weekend’s Old Firm mayhem at Ibrox - and have been urged to “eliminate” ultras groups.
Chief Constable Jo Farrell has waded in on the chaotic scenes that erupted following Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final tie, which the Hoops won 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw after 120 minutes.
Hundreds of supporters from either side stormed onto the pitch as violent clashes broke out, with a member of Celtic’s coaching staff allegedly attacked by Rangers fan. Officers, stewards and other members of the public were injured as items such as flares were thrown. In addition, a young child was also struck by a coin.
Violence also took place outside of the ground, with police confirming arrests had been made in relation to several offences including abuse towards officers as well as culpable and reckless conduct, with many more to follow over the coming days.
Acts of vandalism and graffiti within the stadium is also under investigation amid the worst trouble at an Old Firm fixture for 45 years. The role various fan groups, including the ‘Union Bears’ and their counterparts ‘The Green Brigade’, had on the disorder is currently being assessed.
Police Scotland chief addresses need to ‘eliminate’ yobs from the respective fanbases
The incident was brought up at the Scottish Parliament’s public audit committee meeting on Wednesday where Farrell addressed the need for both clubs to immediate take action against trouble-makers and those connected to so-called ultras groups.
“The events of Sunday afternoon were absolutely disgraceful and I condemn the people involved in violence,” she stated. “Fans, families, friends, people working at the clubs, my officers, do not go to and work within that environment to witness or receive or be on the receiving end of threats and violence.”
Despite significant media coverage, Farrell slammed the ongoing silence from both clubs for refusing to comment on the events that unfolded in the aftermath of Celtic striker Tomas Cvancara’s spot-kick winner.
She admitted: “When we got to Monday evening, there was still no commentary from either of those clubs in respect of the violence that was witnessed. Nobody came out to condemn that violence.”
Asked by MSP Graham Simpson in Holyrood if Celtic and Rangers should now be withholding tickets from ultras groups in an attempt to stop similar incidents occurring again, Farrell responded: “That would seem like an obvious action that needs to be considered and taken by the clubs.
“How do they ensure the safety of their broader fan base and eliminate those individuals who come in and have prepared the balaclavas and the pyrotechnics in order with the intent of causing disruption, harm to those other people around them.”
Farrell’s comments come after the Celtic Fans Collective hit out at Police Scotland over “failures in policing, planning and crowd management”, while the Rangers Supporters’ Association and Rangers Fan Advisory Board released a joint-statement which said: “We are deeply concerned with the handling of the game by Police Scotland, which we consider to have been wholly inadequate and which created unnecessary risks for our fans.”