Consultant to Lead Scottish FA Review
Sports event consultant Mark Blackbourne has been appointed to lead the Scottish Football Association's investigation into the disorder that occurred following the Scottish Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic in March.
Following Celtic's victory on penalties after a 0-0 draw through extra time, disturbances broke out as spectators entered the pitch. The match was the second consecutive meeting between the two clubs at Ibrox Stadium in all competitions, with a notably larger contingent of visiting supporters attending the cup fixture compared to the league match held seven days earlier.
Attendance and Fan Allocation
Approximately 2,500 Celtic fans were present at the 2-2 Scottish Premiership draw on 1 March. However, under Scottish Cup regulations, Celtic was allocated nearly 7,500 tickets—a full stand—for the quarter-final encounter.
Arrests and Reactions
As of 30 March, 13 arrests related to incidents at the cup game had been made. Additional arrests have since been reported in connection with fan disorder at the Rangers versus Celtic match.
Both Rangers and Celtic have issued statements addressing the fan disorder, while a Police Scotland chief publicly criticized both clubs following the disturbances.
Upcoming Fixture and Review Process
Celtic and Rangers are scheduled to face each other once more this season in the Premiership at Celtic Park on 10 May.
The review process commenced after a meeting involving Mark Blackbourne, representatives from both clubs, Police Scotland, and the Scottish FA.
About Mark Blackbourne and Review Objectives
The Scottish FA describes Mark Blackbourne as:
"a vastly experienced sports event consultant who continues to lead on match operations at major club and international competitions under Uefa and Fifa jurisdiction".
The review aims to:
"establish the facts surrounding what happened during the day of the match, both within Ibrox Stadium and the surrounding area, including examining events and decisions made in advance of, during and following the match, with a view to identifying lessons learnt and making recommendations to avoid a repeat of similar scenes at other fixtures with a similar risk profile."
Additional Information
Police created a cordon to separate Old Firm fans on the Ibrox pitch following the disorder.
Fans can watch highlights of Celtic's penalty victory over Rangers in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
