‘Life-threatening violence’ but ‘modest’ punishments: Scottish football has not learned lesson from season of disorder

In Scotland, it was billed as the day to end a “season like no other” – when the “eyes of the world were on Glasgow” and “millions” were watching around the globe. The Premiership title race undeniably ended in the most enthralling of climaxes as Celtic denied Hearts in the final moments of the season to be crowned champions again. But the day was marred by disorder, with those images beamed around the world as well: Celtic fans abusing Hearts players as they ran onto the pitch, the runners-up being bundled back onto the team bus while still in their kit , arrests in the Trongate as supporters took to the streets to celebrate but some clashed with police instead. It should be pointed out that, in all instances, it was the minority of supporters who spoiled a momentous day for everyone else , while in the two months since the final day of the Premiership season there has been no evidence of physical attacks on Hearts players. But that is not to say that those responsible for the shameful scenes at Celtic Park and beyond on Saturday 16 May did not leave their mark in other ways. It added to a picture that had been forming away from the story of the season but was far more troubling; far less appealing to the eyes of the world, too, than a final-day title decider and the novelty of Celtic and Rangers facing outside competition for the first time in a generation. Police and stewards force fans back after they invaded the Ibrox pitch following the Scottish Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic (PA Wire) This was a season where the rise in off-field incidents was just as troubling. The independent review into further fan disorder at Rangers and Celtic’s Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox in March makes for sobering reading for anyone swept up by the drama of last season’s title race. Led by Mark Blackbourne, an experienced Uefa match delegate and stadium inspector, the review finds that “the volume and variety of incidents” involving “pyrotechnics, objects thrown, pitch incursions, anti-social behaviour and targeted intimidation of players and officials” is a “trend”. The extensive report is critical of all sides, but notes that the repeated issue of crowd trouble stems from “an entitled generation” who face “no consequences”. Many of those taunting the Hearts players at Celtic Park were kids, filming themselves on their phones as if performing for the internet. The confrontation at Ibrox was between members of ultra groups wearing balaclavas and masks, acting as if above the law. A chaotic scene is painted by the review into the Scottish Cup quarter-final. It states that “life-threatening violence” was narrowly avoided as “home fans armed with poles and reinforced gloves” confronted the Celtic fans after supporters from both clubs entered the pitch. Officers from Police Scotland are described as “petrified”, while stewards, many transported from England and estimated to have been working at the stadium for the first time, were also said to have been “sufficiently unnerved” by the disorder to decline future work at the fixture. Another steward on the turnstiles was found to be accepting payments to allow ticketless fans to enter while the Rangers mascot, Broxi Bear, was even caught “provoking” Celtic fans. Many of the recommendations in the review do not involve quick fixes. The apparent unwillingness between Rangers and Celtic to work together and communicate ahead of the Scottish Cup quarter-final is no doubt down to the divisiveness of a historic rivalry. Clubs in Scotland are said to be “reluctant” to tackle the influence of the ultras groups, who on one hand provide stadiums with passion, colour and atmosphere, but on the other “exercise a power over clubs and the wider supporter base that is disproportionate to their size”. Those on the front lines when it comes to confronting mass pitch invasions – those part-time stewards, many employed on a zero-hour contract – are likely to become less inclined to take shifts with each passing incident. One of the key lines from the independent review into the Scottish Cup quarter-final chaos was the need for the disruption of the past season to act as Scotland’s “Wembley 2021”, the infamous Euro 2020 final between England and Italy which only avoided serious trouble thanks to a series of near-misses, as supporters stormed the national stadium. But a line cannot be drawn without stronger punishments to break the cycle. Both Rangers and Celtic have been charged with failing to prevent "unacceptable conduct” by the SFA and will face a hearing on 13 August. But the SPFL’s “sanction” for the scenes following the title decider barely reads like a punishment at all. Celtic were fined just £7,500 and told a “reduction in capacity of 1,000 seats” for one match would only be triggered if there was another incident this season. It shockingly overlooks the fact that the scenes at the Premiership title decider came after two other pitch invasions involving Celtic that season, in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox and at Motherwell the very same week. Celtic fans took to the pitch for the third time in just over two months as hundreds invaded the field and many abused Hearts players after winning the title (PA Wire) Police investigating the disorder that marred Celtic’s Premiership title win have released images of 56 people they are looking to trace (PA Archive) “The sanctions are too modest, too deferred and too inconsistently applied to alter the behaviour of the clubs, groups and individuals they are designed to deter,” Blackbourne wrote in his review, which found that neither the SFA or SPFL moved beyond suspended punishments throughout the season despite the rising trend of incidents. Compare Celtic’s £7,500 fine to the club-record fee of £11m splashed on new striker Kasper Hogh this summer. Far stronger punishments were also handed out to Motherwell’s Elliot Watt, banned by the SFA for four games for describing Celtic’s late penalty in that game as “the worst VAR decision in history”, and former Hearts boss Derek McInnes, who branded the same decision “disgusting” . Unlike in England or Wales, meanwhile, it is still not a criminal offence to enter the pitch in Scotland. The law is already years behind and yet the new league season begins on Friday without any change in legislation, or urgency from above. Should the Premiership deliver another dramatic three-way title race, and the odds on that may be slim after Rangers raided Hearts for their manager, captain and star striker, and best midfielder, it appears that very little has been done to prevent the scenes from last season from unfolding again, even if the world is still watching.