Following Sunday’s post-match debacle after the Old Firm Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, in which Danny Rohl’s side exited on penalties, both Rangers and Celtic have released statements.
Rangers were first to speak about the weekend’s disorder, releasing a statement strongly condemning the incident and calling for an independent review – while also pushing back against sections of the reporting from the day.
The Scottish FA had already released a statement of their own in anticipation of Rangers’.
They confirmed that the ever-reliable “Compliance Officer is collating evidence from the weekend’s derby match” and confirmed that, following Rangers’ request, they would “commission an independent review of the matchday safety and security operations”.
Wilson’s comments raise new questions
Then, following the strong statement from Ibrox, Celtic quickly released their own response via a video interview with chairman Brian Wilson.
What coincidental timing for a response.
Wilson claimed that the rush onto the field from the Broomloan Stand was a “euphoric response” following Celtic’s shootout win.
But euphoria drove them to the halfway line and towards both the Sandy Jardine Stand and the Enclosure sections housing the home support?
History repeating
This seems to echo the fallout from the 2016 Scottish Cup final.
In that match Rangers were also defeated while opposition fans, in that case Hibernian supporters, rushed the field.
That incident was described as the result of “exuberance” following their win.
While that may have been true of the initial pitch invasion, the charge up the park towards the Rangers half of the stadium, and the assaults on Gers players, were not.
This is despite the media coverage and suggestions from Hibs at the time.
This claim from Celtic of “euphoria” simply does not wash and appears to be a tactic to distance themselves from blame.
Now, Rangers supporters were not perfect. They should not have retaliated by entering the pitch themselves.
However, Rangers have promised to “take action and impose appropriate sanctions, including the potential withdrawal of ticketing privileges and stadium bans” for those involved, including members of the Union Bears.
Celtic’s response to the Green Brigade’s part in the debacle – a group who have already been banned from their own ground for several months due to repeated incidents?
To create “a pathway to resolving” their issues and allow them back into Celtic Park.
So essentially, to reward the behaviour of a section of the group with a return to their own stadium.
Celtic supporters also rushed turnstiles and allowed unticketed supporters entry via fire doors prior to the match.
Wilson claims that supporters had contacted the club with “real concerns about the access to the Broomloan stand”.
Were these concerns about the potential behaviour of their fellow supporters?
The stand was also vandalised, with sickening graffiti mocking the 66 souls who died in the 1971 Ibrox disaster plastered within the entrances to the outside section of the stand.
There was no comment on this. Silence.
The questions the SFA must answer
On the independent enquiry, Wilson said he would “welcome the SFA’s intention to have a full enquiry”.
And that enquiry will now be crucial.
Because if Scottish football is serious about improving safety at its biggest fixtures, it must address the full sequence of events from Sunday – not just the version that suits certain narratives and this includes the governing bodies own failures.
The truth of what happened at Ibrox should not be diluted by euphemisms or selective outrage.
