Rangers and Celtic face fixture punishment

Published: 10 March 2026

The English Chronicle Desk

The English Chronicle Online — Sports

The fallout from Sunday’s explosive Old Firm clash continues to reverberate across Scottish football, with former Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief executive Gordon Smith predicting that drastic punishment could soon be imposed on both Rangers and Celtic.

Smith, who led the SFA between 2007 and 2010, believes the governing body will have little choice but to ban away supporters from future fixtures between the two Glasgow giants after violent scenes marred the Scottish Cup showdown. The match, won by Celtic on penalties under Martin O’Neill, descended into chaos as fans from both sides invaded the pitch, sparking running battles and forcing police intervention.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Smith said: “They (ultras) are not good fans in terms of what they are doing for their clubs. They are going to stop the club from having normal crowds. Going forward, we are going to see a situation where, I think, the SFA will step in and say there will be no away supporters at Rangers and Celtic games.”

He warned that the governing body faces a major dilemma if the two sides meet in a future Cup Final, where tradition dictates a split crowd. “What do you do if a Celtic and Rangers match at Hampden is half and half?” he asked, highlighting the fixture‑altering consequences of such a ban.

Record Sport revealed that the SFA’s investigation could take up to two weeks before being presented to the Judicial Panel. Officials are expected to consider sanctions ranging from fines to restrictions on ticket allocations. However, Smith’s prediction suggests the governing body may opt for the most severe measure — removing away fans altogether.

The pitch invasion has been widely condemned. Commentators described the scenes as “harrowing” and “cancerous,” pointing to the growing influence of ultras culture in Scottish football. Former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has also called for an away fan ban, echoing Smith’s concerns.

Meanwhile, pundits and supporters alike have debated whether clubs themselves should take stronger responsibility for crowd behaviour, rather than leaving the burden entirely on the SFA.

Both Rangers and Celtic have remained quiet since the incident, prompting speculation that they may prefer to let the SFA take the lead. Smith suggested the silence was deliberate: “I don’t think they know what they are going to do about it. It’s a matter of dealing with their own fans. At the end of the day, you will probably get more of a response from the SFA because we can’t have Old Firm games where both sets of fans are at it. That’s the sad thing that is going to happen.”

If Smith’s prediction proves correct, the absence of away supporters would fundamentally alter the atmosphere of one of world football’s most famous rivalries. The Old Firm derby has long been defined by its intensity, but authorities now face the challenge of balancing tradition with safety.

For now, the SFA’s investigation continues, but the prospect of fixture‑altering punishment looms large over both clubs.

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