Police Scotland say arrests have been made following the Previous Agency pitch invasion and condemned the “despicable display” which ensued at Ibrox after Celtic beat Rangers on penalties within the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
In a Police Scotland assertion, it was additionally confirmed they are going to work with each Rangers and Celtic in a “robust investigation” which may also embrace supporters getting into the Broomloan Street stand with out tickets earlier than kick-off.
Celtic progressed to the semi-finals with a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Rangers after the goalless draw at Ibrox, which sparked a pitch invasion from each units of supporters.
Missiles had been thrown as police and stewards moved to kind a barrier between the 2 units of followers. Order was then restored because the 7,500 Celtic supporters had been left to have a good time alone.
Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen mentioned: “The behaviour of plenty of supporters on the Scottish Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox at present was shameful. It should be condemned by everybody concerned in soccer and wider society.
“Quite a few arrests have already been made, and Police Scotland will now work with each golf equipment and the Scottish Soccer Affiliation to hold out a sturdy investigation following the scenes on the pitch on the conclusion of the match.
“Officers and stewards had been confronted with excessive hostility and violence over a sustained interval, with many people having armed themselves with gadgets clearly supposed to trigger hurt. Officers and members of the general public have been injured on this despicable show and I need to categorical my due to all officers and employees deployed.
“The investigation will also include the actions of some supporters who entered the Broomloan Road stand without tickets before the match started, forcing delays in the security operation and the turnstiles to be closed for a period of time.
“I’d additionally urge anybody with details about who was concerned in dysfunction earlier than, throughout or after the match to get in contact with Police Scotland on 101.”
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Celtic boss Martin O’Neill reacts to crowd hassle following his aspect’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win towards Previous Agency rivals Rangers
The Scottish FA rapidly condemned the followers’ behaviour and mentioned “an investigation will be carried out immediately”.
Röhl condemns fan pitch invasion
Talking in his post-match press convention, Rangers boss Danny Röhl mentioned: “I was not on the pitch in the moment; I did not see it until now. I think we all know the emotional situation after a game. Nobody likes to see this.
“It was an important environment for 120 minutes and it needs to be like this; the opposite issues shouldn’t be within the stadium or in soccer.”
Rangers boss Danny Röhl seems dejected as his aspect are knocked out of the Scottish Cup
O’Neill supplies extra particulars on pitch invasion
Celtic gamers had been escorted off the pitch because the chaos ensued, with supervisor Martin O’Neill offering additional particulars after the sport.
“It’s a big derby game and I think there was a lot of jubilation at us winning. The fans spilt over and I suppose it is very difficult to quell that,” O’Neill mentioned.
“As we were making our way back, there was some kind of fracas and someone had tried to get on the field. It’s unfortunate [scenes at the end] but hopefully it doesn’t dilute the performance in terms of character.
“All I noticed was a little bit of a scrum down on the backside. As you say, perhaps it does taint proceedings however I believe there was a component of self-protection in that one.
“I am making judgments on things I only half saw. From my viewpoint, it was a great win for us. Rangers are very strong and had the full week to go at it.”
Police line as much as block followers from storming the pitch at full-time at Ibrox
O’Neill fearful pitch invasion will overshadow Previous Agency win
On whether or not the pitch invasion from supporters would overshadow the victory, O’Neill added: “That would be a worry for me.
“The fixture itself, though nonetheless an outstanding fixture, had misplaced a little bit of its lustre as a result of the away followers or the total complement of away followers weren’t allowed in.
“I have no idea what might happen. I think today, with the crowd and our crowd there, to me, it was a proper Old Firm game in that sense. We will see what develops.”
Followers storm the pitch at full-time at Ibrox
Previous Agency clashes a ‘shame’, says Adam
Former Scotland worldwide Charlie Adam labelled the pitch invasion a “disgrace” and mentioned each units of supporters let themselves down at Ibrox.
“It’s a disgrace,” he mentioned on talkSPORT. “It’s a sad day for Scottish football.
“For the Previous Agency that we speak about being our management groups and [what] they symbolize, it is a humiliation for our recreation.
“And as a nationwide staff we’re attempting to enhance and we’re attempting to get higher. However these two golf equipment have allow us to down as a nation and so they have to take a look at themselves at present.
“Both football clubs have to look at themselves because they are the standard-bearers for us as football clubs and they have, both [sets of] supporters have let themselves down.
“It is a humiliation for Scottish soccer. This shouldn’t be taking place. Nowadays this shouldn’t be taking place and we have now to get management of it rapidly as a result of if it would not it’s going to hold escalating and escalating and there will be massive, massive issues.”
