The Old Firm will discover their fate at a hearing on Hampden's sixth floor on August 13. A 37-page independent probe into the shameful scenes at Ibrox on March 8 has been released, concluding that the chaos during the quarter-final tie could have resulted in 'life-threatening violence' and a potentially catastrophic crushing incident outside the stadium.
Near-miss report demands serious consequences
The report, signed off by lead independent Mark Blackbourne, states that the near misses 'must be treated with the same seriousness that actual casualties would have demanded.' It criticises the clubs, the SFA, the SPFL and the police for failing to take adequate precautions or stronger preventative measures.
The 4 minutes and 28 seconds of chaos that it took for police to establish order saw rival fans spill onto the pitch from both ends of Ibrox. Outside, ticketless Celtic ultras surged the gates, highlighting the risk of a crushing incident given the tragic history of this derby.
Report calls for tougher sanctions
The report dismisses suspended sentences and paltry cash fines as inadequate empty threats. It calls for the SFA and SPFL to join forces and tackle the cultural trend of thuggery and disorder. Section closure, not ticket reduction, should be the standard first response for confirmed unacceptable conduct. An escalating tariff of sanctions based on a rolling 3-year period should include section or stadium closure.
Where incidents are linked to ultra groups, clubs must formally sanction those groups as a condition of continued stadium access. Failure to act should itself constitute a breach of rules regarding unacceptable conduct.
Authorities must act now
The report sends a clear message: act now and act robustly before you have blood on your hands. Both Celtic and Rangers have been served with identically worded charges by the SFA's compliance officer. The disciplinary hearing in August will determine their fate, and the report demands meaningful action rather than a run-of-the-mill slap on the wrists.
