Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Sunday, 08 March 2026, 22:01 / Updated Sunday, 08 March 2026 22:02
Reprehensible scenes after the Old Firm derby, the match between Rangers and Celtic: supporters of the two rivals descended on the lawn and started fighting.
Rangers host Celtic in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup this afternoon.
It was 0-0 after 120 minutes of play, so it went to penalty kicks. There, all 4 performers from the Celtic camp converted, while for Rangers they only scored from the 4 players chosen to shoot.
After the penalty that confirmed Celtic's victory, some of the away supporters descended on the pitch. Some were surprised to approach their favorites for hugs, congratulations and pictures.
But “on the grass” the supporters of Rangers also descended, in even greater numbers, some of them wearing blue masks, as The Athletic writes. Stewards and police tried to keep the two groups of supporters apart but were not entirely successful.
Chaos after Rangers – Celtic: arrests, police and fans injured!
Rangers supporters threw pyrotechnics onto the lawn hosting Celtic fans, who threw them back. In the images circulating on social networks, we also see some individual clashes, which the law enforcement forces were unable to prevent. For example, a Rangers supporter kicks an opposing fan in the head!
Following the incidents, the Police said they had made arrests and that some supporters and officers had been injured in the incidents.
Chief Commissioner Kate Stephen said:
“The behavior of a group of supporters at today's Scottish Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox was disgraceful. It must be condemned by everyone involved in football and society as a whole.
Several arrests have already been made and Police Scotland will now be working with both clubs and the Scottish Football Association to conduct a thorough investigation following the scenes on the pitch at the end of the match.
“It is an ugly, ugly end to what has been a superb game of football”
Chaos breaks out on the pitch at Ibrox as both sets of fans end up on the pitch following Celtic's penalty shootout win over Rangers pic.twitter.com/m8cmSHEkGM
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) March 8, 2026
Police and flight attendants faced extreme hostility and violence over a sustained period, numerous people arming themselves with objects clearly intended to cause harm. Both officers and civilians were injured in this disgusting spectacle and I want to thank all the police and staff involved.
The investigation will also look into the actions of supporters who entered the Broomloan Road stand without tickets before kick-off, forcing security operations to be delayed and the turnstiles to be closed for a period of time.”
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It was the first game in nearly 8 years that Celtic supporters were treated to the entire Broomloan Road pitch; given what has happened, the practice is unlikely to continue in the near future.
In the semi-finals, Celtic will face one of Dunfermline, Falkirk and St. Mirren or Partick Thistle. The draw will take place tonight, after the duel between St. Mirren and Partick Thistle.
