Keith Wyness shares Rangers punishment update after Ibrox tifo storm - ‘It beggars belief’
That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Gers’ supporters have “poked the bear” again when it comes to the behaviour of both sets of fans surrounding the fixture.
This comes after fans in the Copland Road end of Ibrox unfurled a large-scale display ahead of last weekend’s derby, depicting former Rangers hero Ian Ferguson grabbing Celtic’s Mike Galloway by the shirt collar during a clash between the two clubs back in 1993.
The image was accompanied by the words ‘fight and never fear,’ but Wyness does not believe that the banner will be deemed to be of a "provocative" nature.
Last weekend’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final clash was the first Old Firm Derby of the season, and the first that saw zero away fans in attendance inside Ibrox.
That comes as part of a ban on travelling supporters in Old Firm fixtures for both clubs, which is set to continue for the entire 2026-27 campaign.
Rangers to escape with ‘rap on the knuckles’
Aberdeen’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs – believes that Rangers will get away with a “rap on the knuckles” from the SPFL on this occasion.
Every aspect of their fans’ behaviour is under scrutiny after last season’s violent clashes with Celtic, but Wyness believes their latest display hasn’t quite done enough to truly overstep the mark.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, he explained that “football history” and “humour” must be taken into account when judging the severity of displays like this.
“Here they are facing sanctions for trouble, and here they go, you know, poking the bear in the eye again. It beggars belief to some degree,” he said.
“Now, in terms of this particular display, normally there are rules about sectarianism, abusive language, et cetera, and I don't think that was the case here.
“I stand to be corrected, but I don't believe the police have actually said that this was a provocative situation and have actually complained about it. There's also a bit of football history and humour that means you've got to take some of these things with a pinch of salt.
“I would expect them to probably get off with a rap on the knuckles in this particular case because I don't think it is as bad as anything has been done before.
“Given we're in this particular volatile situation, to do something like this again, it’s a case of will they ever learn?”
Keith Wyness reveals hidden revenue increase behind away fans ban
Wyness previously told Football Insider that the ban on away firms for Old Firm games is actually likely to boost the coffers of both Rangers and Celtic this season.
He pointed out that both clubs are likely to sell the extra tickets from the absent away allocation to home fans at a more premium price.
Wyness is adamant that is the reason why neither club has fought “too hard” against the sanction, despite the dismay from supporters on both sides of the rivalry.
When the reduced costs of policing and segregation inside the stadiums is also factored in, then it could provide quite a significant boost to finances on each matchday.