Celtic have released a statement tonight as an independent investigation by the Scottish Football Association is set to begin following the disorder at Ibrox Stadiumon Sunday, when the Hoops eliminated Rangers from the Scottish Cup.
Interim chairman Brian Wilson addressed the events that followed Celtic’s dramatic penalty shootout victory at Ibrox. The Scottish FA has confirmed that its Compliance Officer is currently gathering evidence from the match, while a separate independent review into matchday safety and security arrangements will also take place.
Wilson focused much of his comments on the immediate scenes after the decisive penalty was scored, stressing that the reaction from Celtic supporters has been widely misinterpreted in public discussion.
“Probably the most high-profile part of the situation was what happened after the final penalty was converted,” Wilson said. “At that moment, Celtic had won the match and what followed was an emotional and euphoric reaction from our supporters.”
He was keen to make a clear distinction between celebration and wrongdoing. Wilson pointed out that similar moments have occurred across Scottish football throughout the season.
“It’s not something unusual,” he explained. “There have been several occasions this season where supporters have spilled onto the pitch in celebration, and that alone does not typically lead to widespread condemnation.”
This point forms the central part of Celtic’s stance. Wilson did not claim that entering the field of play should be encouraged, but he emphasised that the circumstances surrounding each incident should be properly understood before judgments are made.
He also urged patience as the investigation unfolds, warning against conclusions being drawn without clear evidence.
“I welcome the SFA’s decision to carry out a full enquiry, so we should allow the evidence to be examined,” Wilson stated. “If there is proof of violence or threats of violence then, of course, I would strongly condemn that. But we must look at the facts first rather than creating what could become a misleading narrative.”
The comments appear to challenge claims that both sets of supporters share equal blame for the chaos at Ibrox. Wilson argued that Celtic fans were simply celebrating their team’s victory, and that the situation only escalated when Rangers supporters later entered the pitch in anger.
Wilson also dismissed the idea that public condemnation alone can solve long-standing issues in Scottish football.
“If these matters could be fixed simply by issuing statements of condemnation, they would have been resolved many years ago,” he said, suggesting that meaningful action is required rather than repeated rhetoric.
With the Scottish Football Association now moving into the next phase of its investigation, the focus will shift from speculation to evidence. The governing body has confirmed that it will gather detailed information from the match and conduct an independent review into the safety and security operation surrounding one of the biggest fixtures in the Scottish football calendar.
The full statement can be found on the official Celtic website, while Brian Wilson’s interview is also available on the club’s official YouTube channel, where he additionally discusses the ongoing situation involving the Green Brigade.