Celtic and Rangers stadium bans stand on appeal, but suspended penalties removed

Celtic and Rangers stadium bans remain in place for their next home Scottish Cup matches after both clubs failed to overturn the immediate closures on appeal.

However, the appeals were partially upheld. The Scottish FA’s tribunal removed additional suspended punishments and amended the terms of the £100,000 compensation payments due to visiting opponents.

The decisions, published on Thursday 29 October following hearings on Monday 26 October, mean supporters will still be excluded from each club’s next home tie in the competition.

Celtic and Rangers stadium bans: what the ruling says

The Scottish FA’s published outcomes retain the immediate stadium closures and compensation orders, while setting aside the further suspended closure and suspended payment imposed on each club.

Sanction	Position after appeal
Next home Scottish Cup match behind closed doors	Remains in place for both clubs
£100,000 compensation to the visiting club	Retained, payable within 30 days; waived if the visiting opponent is the other Glasgow club
Additional suspended stadium closure	Removed
Additional suspended compensation payment	Removed

When could Celtic and Rangers play behind closed doors?

Celtic and Rangers enter the 2026-27 Scottish Cup in the fourth round, scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 16 January 2027, according to the Scottish FA’s competition announcement.

The order applies to each club’s next home Scottish Cup match, rather than automatically to its opening match in the competition. A fourth-round home tie would therefore be played behind closed doors; an away fixture would not fulfil the home-match order.

The affected opponents and exact match dates are not identified in the disciplinary ruling.

What happens if Celtic and Rangers draw each other?

If the other Glasgow club is the visiting opponent in the affected match, no compensation payment is due under the revised order. The game would still be behind closed doors.

For any other visiting club, the £100,000 payment remains due within 30 days of the match being completed.

Why were the sanctions imposed?

The sanctions followed disorder at the 2025-26 Scottish Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox on 8 March 2026.

BBC Sport Scotland reported that police officers were injured and that 43 arrests had been made by 25 August. Sky Sports reported that supporters clashed on the pitch, with missiles and pyrotechnics thrown.

How Celtic responded

Celtic described the punishment as “excessive and disproportionate”, according to BBC Sport Scotland’s report.

The club argued that the conduct of the two sets of supporters should not have been treated as equivalent. Celtic also said they were not responsible for the stadium safety arrangements at Ibrox and challenged receiving the same punishment as Rangers.

BBC reported that an independent review published in July identified failings by both clubs and criticised the Scottish FA’s approach to crowd disorder.

Does the ruling affect this weekend’s League Cup semi-finals?

These orders apply to the Scottish Cup. They do not impose a stadium closure for this weekend’s League Cup semi-finals at Hampden.

Celtic’s most recent match, a 2-2 draw with Dundee United, is covered in our Celtic vs Dundee United report, and Sunday’s trip to Falkirk in our Falkirk vs Celtic guide. For Saturday’s semi-final, read our Chris Cadden injury update.

Celtic and Rangers stadium bans: your questions answered

Which Celtic and Rangers matches are affected?

Each club’s next home Scottish Cup fixture must be played behind closed doors.

Were the appeals successful?

Partially. The immediate closures remain, but the additional suspended sanctions were removed and the compensation terms changed.

Would an Old Firm tie still be behind closed doors?

Yes, if it is the home club’s affected fixture. The exception concerns compensation, not the stadium closure.