Members of the Rangers Riot Crew ultras took part in a pre-arranged brawl against hooligans from German club FC Hansa Rostock and French club Olympique Lyon. The fight, part of a growing trend of “forest fights,” saw participants pose with a swastika flag, prompting Rostock to ban several supporters.
Violent trend spreads across Scotland
The incident is part of a wider pattern of arranged fights involving young male supporters of Celtic, Hibs, Falkirk and St Mirren. Some of those involved are also believed to have played leading roles in street disorder in Glasgow linked to immigration protests.
A source who contacted the Record said: “There is no doubt that the rise of the far right in Europe and in the UK is connected to with the emergence of these fighting clubs. What you have is a place for people who love violence to go and kick hell out of each other for recreation.”
Political condemnation
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill denounced the gatherings, saying: “There is no place for this sort of violent thuggery – whether that be in Scottish football, or indeed wider Scottish society.” She urged young people to reject the ideology, warning it leads to criminal sentences and harms future prospects.
Scotland's Community Safety Minister Kirsten Oswald said: “Far right and racist hatred has no place in Scotland. Football is our country’s national sport and for it to be hijacked in any way by those who would seek to divide our communities is absolutely abhorrent.”
Club action and police involvement
FC Hansa Rostock, which has a history of far-right issues, issued a statement saying it had informed police and the German Football Association. The club said it would take action including stadium bans and expulsion for members involved. It stated: “Right-wing extremism, Nazi symbolism, and misanthropic ideologies have no place at FC Hansa Rostock.”
The fight followed a Watford FC match against Hansa Rostock on July 25, 2026, with over 6,000 Rostock fans travelling to England. Photos of the brawl, including Nazi salutes and a swastika flag, were circulated online but quickly deleted. Rangers FC have been approached for comment.
