Celtic have condemned as “disproportionate” the Scottish FA’s decision to force them to play their next Scottish Cup home tie behind closed doors, after a supporter pitch incursion in a previous round.
The governing body’s disciplinary panel ruled that the incident – described by Celtic as a “relatively small incursion” during a moment of “emotion and celebration” – merited the most severe sanction available: locking fans out of a home cup tie.
The reaction from Celtic was immediate and pointed. In a club statement, the Scottish champions stressed that they have “never defended supporters entering the field of play” and highlighted a track record of acting against offenders when it happens. The club’s frustration lies not in the charge itself, but in the scale of the punishment.
From Celtic’s perspective, context is everything. They believe the panel failed to distinguish between a brief, celebratory breach and the kind of sustained or aggressive invasions that have drawn heavy sanctions in the past. The club argued that the emotion of the moment should at least have been weighed against the nature and extent of what actually took place.
They also underlined another key point: Celtic were not the home club on the day of the incident and therefore were not responsible for the stadium’s safety arrangements. That line cuts to the heart of their anger. The club clearly feels they are carrying the can for an event in a ground they did not control.
For now, Celtic will wait. The club has said it will study the written reasons once the panel’s full report is issued, then decide on its next steps.
A locked Celtic Park on Scottish Cup duty would be a stark image. The only question now is whether the club can find a way to bring their supporters back through the turnstiles before that tie kicks off.
