Three more men have been arrested and charged in connection with assault following the disorder at last season's Old Firm Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox Stadium. Police Scotland confirmed that the men, aged 45, 30 and 20, have been charged with assault and breach of the peace offences.
The ugly scenes broke out after the match on Sunday, March 8, when flares were fired into crowds of fans while supporters, police officers, and stadium workers came under attack. A steward was seen being carried from the pitch and a number of people required medical treatment.
Arrests reach 43 as investigation continues
The three men have been released on undertakings to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date. This brings the total number of arrests to 43, with the latest arrests made since the previous batch in June as part of Operation Moonlight.
Investigations are still ongoing, and the force has released 12 images of people they are keen to speak to on the matter. Investigators have asked anyone who recognises persons of interest to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting Operation Moonglint, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Information can also be sent directly to the investigation team via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP), a website that gives the public access to a form to pass information, images and footage directly to the Major Investigation Team. The images can be viewed on the Police Scotland website.
Two fans banned from UK stadiums
Earlier, two Rangers fans were banned from every football stadium in the UK for their part in the disorder. Mackenzie Graham, 21, from Glasgow, was filmed jumping over a fence and leading a group of supporters onto the pitch, repeatedly encouraging others to join him. He can be seen in footage wearing all black and leading other Ultras onto the grass while stewards chase them.
John Smith, 19, from Peterhead, was captured throwing a bottle into the Celtic support before being apprehended by police officers in the stands. Both men admitted the charges against them previously at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Graham and Smith have both been handed five-year Football Banning Orders, preventing them from entering any football ground in the UK or travelling to matches to support a team. Graham was also given a two-year Community Payback Order along with an Electronic Monitoring Order, while Smith was sentenced to a 12-month Community Payback Order and a four-month Restriction of Liberty Order.
Aftermath and further incidents
Following the match, former Hoops striker Tomáš Čvančara, who scored the winning penalty for his side, was interviewed for TV wearing a blood-stained shirt after being photographed intervening in an incident on the field. A member of Celtic's coaching staff was also allegedly attacked, and there was violence outside the stadium after the game.
In response, the Union Bears were locked out for the final Old Firm showdown of the season at Parkhead, which Celtic won 3-1 before securing the league title with the same score line against Hearts one week later.
Rangers chiefs complained to the SPFL, who set up a sub-committee to rule on the latest ticket fallout. League bosses ruled Rangers were entitled to their five per cent allocation but backed Celtic by saying they would “not overrule a risk assessment carried out by the party legally responsible for the safety and security of the event”.
