Celtic and Rangers have appealed against the Scottish FA decision forcing both clubs to play their next home Scottish Cup ties behind closed doors.
The two Glasgow clubs are also challenging fines of £100,000 levelled on both after supporters clashed on the pitch at the end of last season’s quarter-final at Ibrox. Celtic progressed from that tie after a penalty shoot-out. The governing body has set appeal hearings for Monday, 26 October.
Both clubs were warned that they could be forced to play a second home match without supporters in the event of further unacceptable conduct.
Neither club has commented on their appeals, but Celtic made their position clear at the time of the sanctions. “We are shocked by this disproportionate punishment for a relatively small incursion by Celtic supporters at a moment of emotion and celebration,” the club said. “Our club has never defended supporters entering the field of play and we have repeatedly taken action when it occurs. However, we understand the part emotion plays in football and would have expected the context and distinction in behaviours to have been taken into account by the panel.”
Celtic also stressed that they were not the host club on the occasion in question. “Another important distinction is that, on this occasion, Celtic were not the home club, responsible for stadium safety arrangements,” the club added.
Both clubs had admitted to the original SFA charges. Rangers said they would consider the outcome in full before determining their response.
The disorder that led to the sanctions followed the final whistle in March, when Police Scotland made 43 arrests after fans clashed and officers and stewards were injured. Objects and pyrotechnics were also thrown.
An independent review commissioned by the Scottish FA found that a “crushing incident was a real and foreseeable risk” due to “non-compliant Ultra group fans surging past police and stewards”.
The fallout has also reshaped this season’s fixtures between the two clubs. An agreement was reached earlier this month to have no away fans at any of the Old Firm derbies in this season’s SPFL competitions.