Rangers: Celtic fans' graffiti at Ibrox 'vile'

Rangers have condemned the "vile" mockery of the Ibrox Disaster by Celtic supporters as they declared that "all parties must be prepared to have their actions and decision-making subjected to proper scrutiny" in the wake of last Sunday's Old Firm derby.

Supporters of both sides spilled on to the pitch after Celtic's penalty shootout win, with missiles thrown and violent incidents leaving police officers, stewards and members of the public, including a 10-year-old child, injured.

It was the first time since 2018 that Celtic fans had been allocated the full 7,500-seat Broomloan Stand, and Rangers -- while condemning the disorder on both sides -- were "appalled" to find graffiti in the away end referencing the Ibrox Disaster, in which 66 people died amid crushing at a Rangers v Celtic match in 1971.

"Following the events of Sunday's Scottish Cup fixture at Ibrox, we have spent the past few days in discussions with our staff, supporter groups and the relevant authorities, and we will continue to work closely with Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council, the Scottish FA and the Safety Advisory Group in the weeks ahead," said a statement from the Ibrox club on Thursday.

"The disorder that occurred on Sunday was unacceptable and we condemn it unequivocally. We also want to recognise the efforts of the many staff, stewards and emergency services who operated in extremely difficult circumstances on the day.

The statement said that a third party should be charged with investigating the events surrounding the match.

"There are now a number of serious issues which require proper examination. For that reason, we agree that there should be a fully independent review into the events surrounding the match," the club said.

"That review must be thorough and wide-ranging, examining the decisions and actions of all relevant parties. Its scope must include the broader context around this fixture, from the initial decisions on ticket allocations through to the sequence of incidents that followed the match."

The club called for a thorough investigation into the events surrounding the fixture.

"All parties must be prepared to have their actions and decision-making subjected to proper scrutiny," Rangers said.

"Where individuals are identified and convicted of offences connected to the match, the club will take action and impose appropriate sanctions, including the potential withdrawal of ticketing privileges and stadium bans.

"We will approach all regulatory engagement responsibly and cooperate fully with the authorities as the facts are established. At the same time, we will represent the club and our supporters robustly.

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"We recognise that many fans want the club to say more at this stage, and supporters should be assured that we are across the detail of the issues being discussed and the questions being raised.

"However, it is important that we respect any ongoing investigative or judicial processes and do nothing that could prejudice them. There will be an appropriate time to address those matters fully."

Rangers added that references to the disaster, which is commemorated with a statue outside Ibrox, are particularly disrespectful given its significance to the club and its fans.

"What we can say now is that issues of stadium safety and the legacy of the Ibrox Disaster are deeply personal to this club. We were appalled to discover graffiti within the stadium referencing that tragedy," the club said.

"The memory of the 66 supporters who lost their lives in January 1971 deserves dignity and respect. To desecrate their memory is vile. It is cowardly. It is shameful. This is not football rivalry and it is not banter. It is the abuse of a tragedy that claimed 66 lives.

"Finally, it is important that the reputation of Rangers supporters is treated fairly in this discussion. Tens of thousands of people attended Ibrox on Sunday simply to support their team with pride and to watch a football match. We will not accept a narrative that ignores the full context of what happened.

"For now it would not be appropriate to comment further."

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.