Celtic and Rangers ordered to play Scottish Cup ties behind closed doors after fan disorder
Scottish football clubs Celtic and Rangers have been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors following fan disorder. The sanctions, which include significant fines, represent a stricter disciplinary approach by the Scottish FA.
Why it matters
This decision marks a shift in how sports governing bodies handle crowd violence and unacceptable conduct in professional football.
Image source, SNS Image caption, The scenes after the Scottish Cup tie between the sides last season
Celtic and Rangers have both been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup matches behind closed doors after last season's quarter-final was marred by fan disorder.
Both clubs will also have to pay £100,000 to the team they are drawn against in that fixture.
The two clubs could also face a second home match without fans if there is a further incident of either side's supporters engaging in "unacceptable conduct" in a Scottish Cup fixture.
Celtic progressed to last season's semi-finals by beating Rangers on penalties at Ibrox, after which fans of both teams spilled on to the pitch.
The sanctions are likely to come into force when both sides enter this season's Scottish Cup at the fourth-round stage in the middle of January.
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