Old Firm Next Scottish Cup Home Tie Behind Closed Doors
Celtic and Rangers will play their next home Scottish Cup tie behind closed doors after crowd trouble at a quarter-final last season.
The update
The Scottish FA has ordered both Celtic and Rangers to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors. The punishment follows crowd trouble during last season’s quarter-final at Ibrox, which ended in a penalty shoot-out victory for Celtic. Both clubs have also been ordered to pay their opponents £100,000 in compensation for the loss of gate receipts.
Why it matters
The decision impacts the atmosphere and financial revenue of the next Old Firm Scottish Cup tie. An independent review of the March incident concluded that ‘crushing’ and ‘life-threatening violence’ were narrowly avoided, highlighting the severity of the disorder that prompted the sanction. The Scottish FA has emphasized that a second stadium closure will be triggered if there is any trouble at a Scottish Cup fixture until the end of the 2027/28 season.
What to watch
Readers should watch for confirmation of the specific dates and venues for the next home ties. The punishment applies only to the next home Scottish Cup fixture, with both clubs maintaining their right to appeal the decision. The clubs’ reactions to this sanction may also influence future crowd control measures at Old Firm matches.
Sources
- skysports.com — Terms of the punishment, £100,000 compensation, and the independent review findings.
- The Independent — Context on the independent review and the clubs' reactions.