A 37-page independent review examining crowd disorder at an Old Firm match in March concluded that multiple parties bear responsibility for the incident, including Rangers, Celtic, the Scottish FA, the SPFL, police, and supporter groups from both clubs. The report’s lead author, sports event consultant Mark Blackbourne, delivered extensive criticism of how the incident was managed and warned that the chaotic scenes came dangerously close to becoming a violent mass confrontation.
Blackbourne documented numerous serious incidents occurring during and after the match, which Celtic won on penalties. His assessment highlighted a pitch invasion by hundreds of visiting Celtic supporters following the victory, followed by a counter-invasion by Rangers fans, some of whom wore face coverings and carried poles and reinforced gloves. Police required four minutes and 28 seconds to establish control during a period when life-threatening violence remained possible. The report catalogued additional troubling incidents, including a steward accepting payment to admit fans, a Celtic employee being struck in the face, racial abuse directed at a player, and a 10-year-old child being hit by a coin.
A central finding of the review concerns the ineffectiveness of current disciplinary approaches. Blackbourne argued that financial penalties and suspended sentences have failed to deter unacceptable conduct and that Scottish football is experiencing an upward trajectory in recorded incidents across multiple seasons. He called for immediate crowd restrictions as the opening sanction for serious violations rather than modest fines or deferred penalties.
The report also examined the role of organized ultras groups at both clubs, describing them as having characteristics similar to organized crime entities, with internal hierarchies, coordinated planning, and use of intimidation. Blackbourne criticized both clubs for demonstrating reluctance to confront these groups, partly due to the atmosphere they generate and partly from fear of consequences.
A significant question raised in the report concerns whether football authorities possess the will to implement the recommended reforms. While noting that existing disciplinary frameworks provide tools including points deductions and expulsion, the report questioned whether the Scottish FA and SPFL would choose to deploy these powers more severely than they have historically done.