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Old Firm Violence and Silence: Celtic and Rangers Face Scrutiny After Ibrox Chaos

BBC Sport Football •
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Celtic and Rangers faced intense scrutiny after violent scenes at Ibrox overshadowed a Scottish Cup quarter-final. Celtic striker Tomas Cvancara scored the winning penalty as Rangers missed two spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw. But the match was overshadowed by a pitch invasion where police and stewards formed barricades between rival fans. Several officers and supporters were injured as flares were thrown during the disorder.

Both clubs initially remained silent for days before issuing statements. Rangers unequivocally condemned the violence and expressed disgust at graffiti mocking the 1971 Ibrox disaster, which claimed 66 lives. Celtic interim chairman Brian Wilson pushed back against criticism, describing the pitch invasion as an 'euphoric response' and demanding evidence before condemnation.

The SFA launched an independent review of safety operations, while both clubs face questions over future away ticket allocations. The delayed responses have drawn criticism for being 'too little, too late' from fans' groups, who say a joint statement expressing regret would have sent a better message.