Police separate Celtic and Rangers fans after Ibrox pitch invasion

Police were forced to intervene after supporters of Celtic F.C. and Rangers F.C. clashed on the pitch following a dramatic Old Firm encounter at Ibrox Stadium.

The incident occurred after Celtic supporters surged onto the pitch to celebrate their side’s 4–2 penalty shootout victory in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final.

What began as celebrations quickly escalated when Rangers fans entered the field, triggering a confrontation between the rival groups. Flares were reportedly thrown as tensions rose, prompting police officers and stadium stewards to step in and form a human barrier separating the two sets of supporters.

Despite the brief disorder, the situation was brought under control relatively quickly, with fans eventually returning to the stands.

The match marked the first time since 2018 that Celtic supporters were granted the full allocation in the Broomloan Stand at Ibrox. In previous years, the number of away supporters allowed into the stadium had been drastically reduced to fewer than 1,000.

Historically, around 7,500 Celtic fans would fill the stand during Old Firm clashes, one of the fiercest rivalries in football.

Since the reduction in 2018, away fan allocations at both Ibrox and Celtic Park have fluctuated significantly, ranging from roughly 750 supporters to none at all, following a series of tit-for-tat decisions between the two clubs.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Football Association strongly condemned the behaviour that followed the match.

“The Scottish FA condemns the behaviour from supporters entering the field of play following today’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final at Ibrox Stadium,” the spokesperson said.

They added that a formal investigation will be launched immediately in accordance with the organisation’s judicial panel procedures.