Rangers’ Firm stance blocks Celtic’s full away allocation at Ibrox
Rangers have taken a Firm stance by refusing to restore historic Old Firm away allocations at Ibrox, after the March Scottish Cup quarter‑final saw a pitch invasion when Celtic secured a penalty‑shootout win in Govan, prompting disciplinary charges from the Scottish FA for both clubs.
Fans stormed the pitch at Ibrox after Celtic secured the win on penalties in the Scottish Cup quarter‑final, turning a celebratory moment into a security breach.
The Parkhead side triumphed in Govan, and the incident triggered disciplinary charges for both clubs from the Scottish FA, underscoring the seriousness of the disorder.
Rangers described the disorder as unacceptable and condemned those involved. The club accepted responsibility for the areas within its control but said it does not agree with the independent review in its entirety.
The club opposed an away allocation of roughly 8,000 Celtic supporters, citing clear safety concerns about the increased number of visiting fans. Rangers said it had enhanced its planning to reflect those risks, yet the measures were severely tested by individuals determined to cause disorder.
Rangers expressed concern over the report’s limited examination of the decision to allocate around 8,000 tickets, noting it materially changed the fixture’s risk profile. The review proposes a pathway back to full away allocations, a suggestion Rangers say was not part of the terms of reference and does not reflect their position.
In its statement the club reiterated, “We have no plans to restore historic Old Firm allocations at Ibrox.” It also called for the review to scrutinise the Scottish FA’s actions surrounding the match, labeling the omission a significant one.
Celtic, the Govan club, have enforced bans on some fans involved and warned that serious misconduct will result in serious consequences.
Both clubs now await disciplinary proceedings from the Scottish FA, while the proposed allocation pathway remains rejected by Rangers.