NafisaRangers and Celtic have suffered a major setback after the Scottish FA rejected their attempts to overturn the behind-closed-doors sanctions imposed following the chaotic scenes at Ibrox in March.
Both Glasgow giants appealed against the punishments handed down after their Scottish Cup quarter-final, but the outcome has now been confirmed, with the governing body’s Appellate Tribunal ruling that each club must still play its next home Scottish Cup fixture without supporters.
However, there has been a significant twist. While the stadium closures remain in place, the SFA has removed the threat of an additional suspended stadium closure and further compensatory payment for both clubs.
The appeal outcome also changes the financial arrangements between the rivals, meaning neither club will have to pay the £100,000 compensation to the other if they meet as opponents in the affected Scottish Cup fixture.
The decision leaves Rangers and Celtic facing an unusual situation as they prepare to discover their opponents in the next round, with a home draw potentially forcing either side to play a major cup tie in an empty stadium.
SFA Refuses To Overturn Stadium Closure
The disciplinary action followed the ugly scenes that erupted after Celtic defeated Rangers on penalties in their Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox in March.
Supporters from both clubs invaded the pitch following the final whistle, prompting police officers and stewards to intervene as tensions threatened to escalate.
Police Scotland confirmed that 43 arrests were made in connection with the disorder, while the incident prompted widespread criticism of the behaviour witnessed at the stadium.
The SFA subsequently imposed heavy sanctions on both clubs, including a requirement for their next home Scottish Cup matches to be played behind closed doors. Each club was also ordered to pay £100,000 in compensation to the opposition to cover lost revenue.
Both Rangers and Celtic challenged the punishments, presenting their cases at an appeal hearing on Monday.
However, the verdict announced on Thursday confirmed that the central sanction would remain in place.
The SFA’s decision means that, regardless of which opponent either club draws in the next round, a home Scottish Cup fixture will have to be played without supporters.
Rangers And Celtic Escape Additional Punishments
Although the appeals failed to overturn the stadium closures, both clubs secured a partial victory over the additional sanctions.
The original disciplinary decisions included a suspended further stadium closure and a suspended additional compensatory payment, which could have been triggered by further fan trouble at a Scottish Cup match before the end of the season.
The Appellate Tribunal has now set aside those suspended punishments.
That means Rangers and Celtic will no longer face the additional suspended closure and compensatory payment contained in the original rulings.
The tribunal also amended the terms of the immediate £100,000 compensation orders.
In Celtic’s case, the ruling states that the payment remains due within 30 days of completion of the affected match, but no payment will be required under that order if Rangers are the visiting club.
The same arrangement applies to Rangers, who will not have to pay the compensation to Celtic if the Scottish champions are their opponents.
For either club facing another opponent, the £100,000 payment and its deadline remain unchanged.
Both clubs will also receive £500 back from their respective £1,000 appeal deposits.
The central punishment, however, remains untouched: the next home Scottish Cup match for each club must still be played behind closed doors.
A Potential Empty Stadium For A Major Cup Tie
The timing of the decision means Rangers and Celtic must now wait for the next round of the Scottish Cup to discover how the ruling will affect their campaigns.
Celtic are the current holders after defeating Rangers in the quarter-final before going on to lift the trophy.
Should either side receive a home draw in the upcoming round, the January fixture would be played without supporters.
For both clubs, that could mean losing the atmosphere and financial benefits normally associated with a home cup tie, although the revised compensation arrangements mean the £100,000 payment will depend on the identity of the visiting team.
The decision also leaves the rivals with little room to challenge the central requirement through this particular appeal process.
While the removal of the additional suspended sanctions offers some relief, neither club has escaped the immediate consequences of the disorder at Ibrox.
Ibrox Chaos Continues To Have Consequences
The March quarter-final was supposed to be remembered for a major Scottish Cup clash between two of the country’s biggest clubs.
Instead, the pitch invasions and subsequent disciplinary proceedings have continued to dominate the aftermath.
The SFA’s latest ruling makes clear that both clubs remain accountable for the incident, even though their appeals resulted in changes to the additional punishments and compensation arrangements.
For Rangers and Celtic supporters, the prospect of watching their team play a Scottish Cup home match in an empty stadium will be an unwelcome reminder of the events that followed the penalty shootout.
The immediate question is now which opponents the clubs will face in the next round and whether either will be drawn at home.
One thing is already certain: Rangers and Celtic have escaped the threat of further suspended punishments, but neither has escaped the behind-closed-doors ban.
Nafisa
