An investigation into violence at an Old Firm Scottish Cup tie has revealed that a club security officer was attacked by one of the players.
Both Rangers and Celtic, police chiefs, and fans have been slammed in the SFA report into scenes that marred the game in March between the bitter Glasgow rivals at Ibrox.
The review by security consultant Mark Blackbourne found "life-threatening violence" during a pitch invasion, with officers left "petrified" of policing another game there.
Assault on security officer
However in a summary at the end of the 37-page report titled a 'Sequence of Events' Blackbourne details another disturbing incident. On a timeline given as 3.47pm, after the match has finished, the report says: "Deputy SO assaulted by a player."
The Deputy SO is believed to be a reference to an unnamed Deputy Security Officer - assumed to be from Rangers. However the player is not named and his club is not given either. No further details are provided.
The same 3.47pm timeline also says: "Stand manager assaulted by RFC fans - hospitalised. Steward reported struck by a bottle."
Pitch invasion and violence
Shameful scenes followed the match earlier this year, which Celtic won on penalties. Members of the Hoops fan group the Green Brigade had forced entry to the ground without tickets.
Celtic supporters burst onto the field in celebration after their winning penalty in the shootout, prompting a counter-invasion by Rangers fans - some of whom carried weapons. Police, stewards, and players were assaulted and flares thrown before order was restored.
Blackbourne, who is a UEFA security expert, also said: "On the pitch: the confrontation between both sets of supporters, with masked home fans armed with poles and reinforced gloves, came within a very small margin of becoming a violent mass confrontation."
"The four minutes and 28 seconds it took to establish control was a period in which violent serious, potentially life-threatening violence was possible."
Criticism of clubs and police
The report went on: "Neither Rangers FC nor Police Scotland had key leads on the ground with experience of managing an away allocation of 8,000 Celtic supporters at Ibrox."
Blackbourne also said it was "deeply disturbing" that a post-match Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group meeting recorded that time-served cops were "petrified" of policing another match at Ibrox.
His report also outlines how a 10-year-old and nine-year-old were injured by coins thrown by fans and a Rangers player was racially abused.
Arrests and potential sanctions
Police Scotland have to date made 37 arrests in connection with the disorder with more expected. They said they were not aware of the incident referred to in the summary relating to the assault.
Former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith told the Daily Record earlier this week that clubs could be docked points if there is further disorder and pitch invasions at games.
He added "I think fans should be told an invasion of the pitch would change the result of the match."
"In a league game they lose points, if it's a cup game they are put out the cup even though they might win. I do think that would change the behaviour. Any pitch invasion at all for me deserves that punishment."
Smith also said it was a mistake by the SFA to allow so many away fans at the Old Firm cup game and would prefer to see a reduced number, as there are in league games.
Rangers FC and the SFA were contacted for comment.
