Celtic and Rangers have failed in their appeals against stadium closure sanctions imposed by Scottish football authorities, meaning both clubs will now host their next Scottish Cup home matches behind closed doors.
The sanctions stem from disorder at a Scottish Cup quarter-final, with the independent review process concluding that both clubs must face the consequences. Each club is required to pay £100,000 to the visiting team when they host their upcoming Scottish Cup home ties, adding a significant financial penalty to the fixture restrictions.
Appeal dismissed
The appeals process, led by independent review lead Mark Blackbourne, has now concluded with the dismissal of challenges from both Glasgow rivals. Despite their attempts to overturn the original decision, the authorities have upheld the enforcement of the stadium closures for Scottish Cup competition.
Suspended ban lifted
In a partial concession, the independent review process has lifted a suspended ban on fans for future infractions that had originally been included in the sanctions package. This means the clubs will not face an additional threat of extended closure periods should further misconduct occur during the enforcement of the current penalties.
The ruling ensures that both Celtic and Rangers must proceed with their Scottish Cup campaigns under significant restrictions, operating without their home support for the duration of their next home ties in the competition. The financial implications of £100,000 payments per match combined with the loss of home advantage create a double sanction designed to address the disorder that prompted the original action.
These sanctions represent a substantial blow to both clubs’ Scottish Cup ambitions, with the absence of their supporters likely to impact the atmosphere and psychological advantage of playing at home during the competition’s remaining stages.