Scottish FA Cup quarter-final: Rangers 0 Celtic 0 [set; Celtic win 4-2 on penalties
A number of arrests have been made as fans clashed on the Ibrox pitch after Celtic knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup on penalties on Sunday afternoon.
The Scottish Football Association has launched an investigation after Celtic and Rangers fans clashed following the visitors’ shoot-out triumph.
Celtic secured a 4-2 victory after the goalless draw before dozens of their fans invaded the pitch. That sparked an invasion from hundreds of Rangers supporters and missiles were thrown as police and stewards moved to form a barrier.
Police Scotland said in a statement on Sunday evening that a number of arrests have already been made and that officers and members of the public had been injured.
The statement added that police will now work with both clubs and the Scottish Football Association to carry out an investigation.
Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen said: “The behaviour of a number of supporters at the Scottish Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox today was shameful. It must be condemned by everyone involved in football and wider society.
“A number of arrests have already been made, and Police Scotland will now work with both clubs and the Scottish Football Association to carry out a robust investigation following the scenes on the pitch at the conclusion of the match.
“Officers and stewards were faced with extreme hostility and violence over a sustained period, with many individuals having armed themselves with items clearly intended to cause harm.
“Officers and members of the public have been injured in this despicable display and I want to express my thanks to all officers and staff 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.”
Rangers captain James Tavernier hit the bar with the first penalty before fellow substitute Djeidi Gassama blazed over, with Tomas Cvancara then sealing the victory and prompting the chaos.
Celtic striker Daizen Maeda had a goal disallowed for offside following a VAR review, but Martin O’Neill’s side otherwise never threatened.
Statistics showed that Rangers managed 24 shots and they also had a goal wiped out by VAR following an obvious handball by Emmanuel Fernandez.
Celtic’s Tomas Cvancara (left) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the winning penalty in the shoot-out in the Scottish Cup quarter-final match against Rangers at Ibrox. Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA Wire
But the hosts struggled to seriously test Viljami Sinisalo and were denied on a number of occasions by some penalty-box blocks.
Celtic were missing captain Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney following injuries picked up in the midweek win at Aberdeen. Luke McCowan came into central midfield, while Liam Scales moved to left back as Auston Trusty came in amid a three-match league suspension. Maeda started through the middle.
There was also a notable omission in the Rangers team as John Souttar was dropped to the bench along with Tochi Chukwuani. The hosts forced the early pressure and there was flashpoint when Trusty blocked Youssef Chermiti’s strike with an arm. But it was tucked into his body and video assistant Andrew Dallas did not summon referee Don Robertson to the monitor.
Rangers were well on top in the opening quarter but that was the only real scare Celtic had and the visitors grew into the game.
The away fans were celebrating 10 minutes from half-time when Maeda netted with a diving header but Scales was ultimately ruled offside by VAR after heading on McCowan’s cross.
Dujon Sterling and Chermiti looped efforts over before the break and Rangers spent most of the second period in the Celtic half.
Hoops goalkeeper Sinisalo stood up well to the aerial pressure and came off his line quickly to foil Chermiti following a mistake from Benjamin Arthur.
The visitors needed some last-ditch blocks from Trusty and Sebastian Tounekti in particular to keep the scores blank.
Rangers’ physical advantage was forcing Celtic back and there was little respite for the visitors, who ended the 90 minutes with an all-new front three of Joel Mvuka, Cvancara and James Forrest.
The pattern continued into extra time. Substitute Dane Murray’s block denied Chermiti and Rangers then had a goal disallowed by VAR after the ball went into the net off the hand of Fernandez following a corner.
Chermiti volleyed wide from a good chance and Sinisalo saved from Nedim Bajrami as the action continued to flow one way.
Rangers won the toss for the spot-kicks but could not take advantage in front of the Copland Road Stand.