An independent review into crowd disorder at the Old Firm Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox in March has delivered a damning verdict, criticising Rangers, Celtic, the Scottish FA, the SPFL, police and both clubs' ultras groups. Author Mark Blackbourne, a sports event consultant, concluded that violence at the match came within a very small margin of escalating into a "violent mass confrontation", and argues that existing disciplinary sanctions are too weak, delayed and inconsistently applied to change fan behaviour. He is calling for football authorities to move away from fines towards tougher measures such as immediate restrictions on crowd numbers.

The report details how Celtic's penalty shootout win triggered a pitch invasion by hundreds of the more than 8,000 away fans, followed by a hostile counter-invasion from Rangers supporters, some masked and carrying poles and reinforced gloves; it took police four minutes and 28 seconds to regain control. Other findings include a crush risk in the Broomloan Road as ticketless Celtic fans forced their way past security, an absence of policing plans outside the ground, officers describing themselves as "petrified" to work the fixture, a steward arrested after allegedly taking payment to admit fans, and a Celtic employee struck by a masked Rangers fan. Both clubs now face disciplinary charges as authorities consider how to respond.