Ciaran Morrison

Wed 11 March 2026 12:48, UK

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Rangers and Celtic ultras should not be allowed to attend any Old Firm game in the future following clashes between the two sets of supporters.

That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who doesn’t think all away fans should be banned from future derby games.

A section of Celtic and Rangers fans both entered the field of play after the full-time whistle of their recent Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox, which the visitors won on penalties following a 0-0 draw.

The defeat ended Rangers’ hopes of winning the Scottish Cup, whilst Celtic remain in the hunt for a cup and league double following their progression to the semi-finals of the competition.

Old Firm ‘don’t need to exclude all away fans’

Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes the post-match scenes were “predictable.”

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks both clubs need to release a statement about the events that unfolded.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “What can the clubs do? Well, again, they’ve come out with no statements as we speak on a Tuesday morning. They have not come out with a statement. 

“So there’s a vacuum that’s being filled with misinformation and other thoughts. It really should have been incumbent on the clubs to come out with a theory about doing something about ticketing. 

“We’ve talked about the away fans coming in there, but I don’t necessarily think you have to exclude all the away fans. You just have to exclude certain elements of the away fans is what I’m looking at. And that’s what’s got to happen. It’s got to be those elements that have got to be targeted.

“They were obviously the ones that were intent on causing some mayhem because they came with their face masks and everything. They were all prepared and had weapons to do this. And so, you know, there’s got to be better stadium searches.

“And I don’t think you necessarily have to ban away fans. You just have to ban certain elements. And that’s what I think they’ve got to do. And they’ve got to target these particular elements rather than just talking about generalities. 

“That’s where I think the issue is. But it’s a passion that goes around the Old Firm. It spilled over, it was disgraceful, but I’m afraid it was all too predictable, I’m afraid, and it’s something that could have been addressed, but wasn’t.”  

Ex-FIFA referee weighs in on Rangers vs Celtic controversy

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett told Football Insider that major action could be taken against Rangers and Celtic on the ugly scenes.

Points deductions and games being played behind closed doors are both possible actions the authorities could take against both clubs.

The two sides are set to meet once more this season in the league, though the away fan allocation is set to be considerably less than the 7,500 Celtic fans that travelled to Ibrox in the cup.