CELTIC HIT BY SFA CLOSED-DOORS BAN

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CELTIC will have to play their next home Scottish Cup-tie behind closed doors.

Rangers, too, have been hit by an identical punishment by the SFA following the unruly scenes and pitch invasion after the Hoops had won 4-2 on penalty-kicks at Ibrox in the quarter-final of the competition in March.

Both clubs have also been ordered to pay the visiting side £100,000 due to missed ticket revenue.

The match ended in a scoreless stalemate after extra-time before the outcome was settled by on-loan Borussia Monchengladbach striker Tomas Cvancara with the decisive penalty-kick.

That effort – added to others from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Auston Trusty and Reo Hatate – sparked jubilant scenes among the 7,000 Hoops fans with some of the supporters coming onto the pitch behind the goal to celebrate.

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CELEBRATIONS…Julian Araujo joins the jubilant Celtic fans after the team’s 4-2 Scottish Cup penalty-kick shoot-out success at Ibrox in March.

Home followers retaliated by running onto the pitch towards the visiting support and pyros were fired into the Broomloan Road end of the ground.

The invasion led to multiple confrontations across the field fans were seen clashing as players and staff raced for the tunnel leading to the safety of the dressing rooms.

Matchwinner Cvancara was seen with blood stains down his shirt during the post-match interview while TV footage showed a coach from Celtic being attacked by an individual in the midst of the melee.

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Both police and stewards battled to restore order on the pitch.

Anti-terror cops were involved in the probe into the violence, with dawn swoops made in the aftermath with 43 arrests being reported so far.

THE WINNING GOAL…on-loan striker Tomas Cvancara sweeps in the decisive penalty-kick that sparked a riot at Ibrox.

An SFA statement regarding both clubs read: “By unanimous decision, the Tribunal imposes the following sanctions under Rule 37:

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“- In terms of Sanction (g), Orders that the Club’s next home Scottish Cup match be played behind closed doors;

“- In terms of Sanction (j), Orders that the Club make a compensatory payment of £100,000 to the away side drawn in respect of said next home Scottish Cup match, payment to be made within 30 days of completion of the
match;

“- In terms of Sanction (g), Orders on a suspended basis (active until the period ending at the conclusion of season 2027/28) that a further home Scottish Cup match for the Club be played behind closed doors, applicable only in the event of a further failure by the Club to ensure that its supporters do not engage in unacceptable conduct in respect of any Scottish Cup fixture during said period; and

“- In terms of Sanction (j), Orders on the same suspended basis (active until the period ending at the conclusion of season 2027/28) that the Club make a compensatory payment of £100,000 to the away side drawn in respect of said further home Scottish Cup match, payment to be made within 30 days of completion of the match, applicable only in the event of a further failure by the Club to ensure that its supporters do not engage in unacceptable conduct in respect of any Scottish Cup fixture during said period.”

Celtic hit back at the SFA and said they are “shocked by this disproportionate punishment for a relatively small incursion by Celtic supporters at a moment of emotion and celebration”.

‘SHOCKED’ CELTIC STATEMENT

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