An Old Firm player allegedly assaulted a security officer during the Scottish Cup disgrace match.

Report Uncovers Another Serious Incident

The independent investigation into the disorder that overshadowed the Scottish Cup clash between Rangers and Celtic has uncovered another alarming allegation, claiming that a stadium security official was assaulted by one of the players following the match.

An Old Firm players has been accused of assaulting a security officer in the SFA report into the Rangers-Celtic Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox(Image: Steve Welsh/PA Wire.)

The accusation appears in the Scottish Football Association-commissioned review carried out by respected stadium security specialist Mark Blackbourne, whose 37-page report examined the events surrounding the chaotic scenes at Ibrox earlier this year.

While much of the attention has focused on the large-scale crowd disorder, pitch invasions and violence involving supporters, the report also references an alleged attack on a deputy security officer by an unnamed player.

The identity of the footballer involved is not disclosed, and the report does not specify whether the player represented Rangers or Celtic.

Violence Overshadowed Cup Clash

The Scottish Cup meeting between the Glasgow rivals ended in dramatic fashion, with Celtic securing victory after a penalty shootout.

Instead of celebrations remaining confined to the stands, disorder quickly unfolded after the final whistle. Members of Celtic’s Green Brigade supporter group reportedly entered the stadium without valid tickets before large numbers of supporters spilled onto the pitch following the decisive penalty.

Mark Blackbourne(Image: Blair Stewart <blair.stewart@reachplc.com>)

The situation rapidly escalated as Rangers supporters responded by entering the playing surface, leading to direct confrontations between rival fans.

According to the review, several individuals involved in the disorder were carrying weapons, creating an extremely dangerous situation for everyone inside the stadium.

Police officers, stewards, security personnel and even players became caught up in the violence before order was eventually restored.

Timeline Highlights Alleged Assault

Among the most notable details contained within Blackbourne’s report is a chronological sequence of events documenting what occurred after the conclusion of the match.

The timeline records an incident at 3:47 p.m. with the brief entry:

“Deputy SO assaulted by a player.”

Although the report provides no further explanation surrounding the alleged assault, it has generated fresh questions regarding exactly what took place during those chaotic moments.

The abbreviation “Deputy SO” is widely understood to refer to a Deputy Safety Officer, who is believed to have been working on behalf of Rangers during the fixture.

Police chiefs, both Rangers and Celtic and their fans were blasted in the report(Image: SNS Group)

However, Blackbourne does not identify either the security official or the player allegedly involved.

Without additional detail, the circumstances surrounding the reported assault remain unclear.

Security Expert Warns of Life-Threatening Violence

Throughout his investigation, Blackbourne paints a deeply concerning picture of the events that unfolded inside Ibrox.

The UEFA security consultant concludes that those present came dangerously close to witnessing a far more serious tragedy.

According to his assessment, rival supporters confronted one another on the pitch while some home supporters were reportedly equipped with poles and reinforced gloves, significantly increasing the level of danger.

Blackbourne wrote that the confrontation between the two groups came within only a narrow margin of becoming a violent mass incident.

He further stated that the four minutes and twenty-eight seconds required to regain control represented a period during which extremely serious and potentially life-threatening violence could easily have occurred.

His findings underline just how close the situation came to spiralling completely beyond the control of police and stadium security.

Other Assaults Listed in the Report

The alleged assault involving the deputy safety officer was not the only violent incident recorded in Blackbourne’s timeline.

The same section of the report also documents further attacks on stadium personnel.

According to the summary, a stand manager was allegedly assaulted by Rangers supporters and later required hospital treatment.

Another steward was reportedly struck by a bottle during the disorder.

These incidents add to an already lengthy list of violent acts that occurred both on and around the pitch following the conclusion of the match.

The report also explains that Rangers had one Safety Officer supported by two Deputy Safety Officers overseeing operations during the fixture, with stewarding responsibilities managed under one of those deputies.

Police Continue Criminal Investigation

Police Scotland’s investigation into the disturbances remains ongoing.

Authorities have confirmed that, to date, 37 arrests have been made in connection with the violence that erupted after the Scottish Cup tie.

Officers have also indicated that further arrests remain possible as investigations continue and additional evidence is reviewed.

Despite the allegation contained within Blackbourne’s report, Police Scotland stated they were not aware of the specific incident involving the alleged assault on the deputy safety officer by a player.

That response suggests the matter may not have formed part of the police investigation at the time of publication.

Whether further inquiries will now be undertaken remains to be seen.

Gordon Smith Calls for Tougher Punishments

The fallout from the disorder has prompted renewed debate over how Scottish football should deal with pitch invasions and crowd violence.

Former Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith believes significantly harsher punishments are required if similar incidents are to be prevented in the future.

Speaking earlier this week, Smith argued that clubs should face direct sporting consequences whenever supporters invade the pitch.

He suggested league clubs should automatically lose points if their fans enter the field of play, while teams competing in cup competitions should face immediate elimination regardless of the match result.

According to Smith, introducing such severe sanctions would fundamentally change supporter behaviour and discourage future invasions.

In his view, any pitch invasion deserves meaningful punishment because of the serious safety risks involved.

Former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith(Image: Daily Record)

Questions Over Away Support Allocation

Smith also questioned the decision to allocate such a large number of away supporters for the Scottish Cup fixture.

Unlike league meetings between Rangers and Celtic, where away ticket allocations have been significantly reduced in recent seasons, the cup tie featured a much larger travelling support.

Smith believes that decision contributed to the heightened tensions inside Ibrox and suggested future Old Firm cup matches should adopt attendance arrangements similar to those already used during league fixtures.

Reducing away allocations, he argued, could help minimise the risk of further crowd disorder at future meetings between Scottish football’s fiercest rivals.

Clubs Yet to Respond

The publication of Blackbourne’s report has generated fresh scrutiny of both clubs, police operations and matchday security procedures.

The findings have highlighted shortcomings across several areas while raising additional questions about responsibility for the disorder that unfolded following Celtic’s penalty shootout victory.

At the time the report became public, both Rangers and Celtic continued to face criticism over events surrounding the fixture, while investigations into the violence remained active.

The Scottish Football Association and Rangers were approached for comment regarding the report and its findings.

As inquiries continue, the allegations contained within Blackbourne’s review are likely to remain a major talking point, particularly the unexplained claim that a deputy security officer was allegedly assaulted by one of the players during one of the most chaotic afternoons Scottish football has witnessed in recent years.