Police investigate pitch invasion after Celtic’s Scottish Cup win at Ibrox

Police Scotland report “extreme hostility and violence” after post-match scenes at Ibrox Stadium
Celtic F.C. players and staff were involved in incidents following their Scottish Cup quarterfinal victory over Rangers F.C.
Several arrests have been made as authorities begin an investigation into the pitch invasion

Police Scotland said officers faced “extreme hostility and violence” following a pitch invasion after Celtic F.C. defeated Rangers F.C. in the quarterfinals of the Scottish Cup.

The incident occurred at Ibrox Stadium after the match, when visiting Celtic supporters entered the pitch to celebrate the victory.

Police said hundreds of Rangers supporters, many from the section housing the Union Bears, then moved toward the Broomloan Stand where away fans were located.

A flare was thrown toward the stand and continued to be passed around while police officers and stewards attempted to form a barrier between the two groups of supporters.

Officers detained a supporter following an incident involving a member of Celtic’s backroom staff. Several Celtic players, including Tomáš Čvančara, ran toward the scene during the confrontation.

Čvančara, who scored the winning penalty during the shootout, later appeared in a post-match interview on Premier Sports with blood stains visible on his shirt.

Video footage also appeared to show Celtic defender Julián Araujo being pushed by a Rangers supporter before he moved toward the tunnel.

Kate Stephen described the events as “shameful” and confirmed that arrests had already been made.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

Stephen added that officers and members of the public were injured during the incident and thanked police personnel for their response.

The investigation will also examine how some supporters entered the Broomloan section without tickets before the match.

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Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.