OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:Scottish Cup Ban Talk Branded ‘Nonsense’ as Rangers and Celtic Told Only One Measure Can Stop Old Firm Chaos

Calls to ban Rangers F.C. and Celtic F.C. from the Scottish Cup have been dismissed as “nonsense” amid the fallout from the explosive Old Firm clash that sparked widespread debate about fan behaviour in Scottish football.
The discussion intensified after chaotic scenes followed the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, where Celtic edged their fierce rivals in a dramatic penalty shootout. The match itself was intense, but the aftermath quickly overshadowed the football as disorder broke out involving supporters, prompting police intervention and several arrests.
In the days since the incident, some voices within the game suggested that the ultimate punishment would be banning both clubs from next season’s Scottish Cup. However, veteran Scottish football pundit Hugh Keevins has strongly rejected that idea, arguing it would do little to address the real issue.
Keevins labelled the proposal “nonsense,” insisting that removing the Glasgow giants from the national cup competition would not reduce tensions between the two clubs. The Old Firm rivals already face each other multiple times every season in the Scottish Premiership, meaning the fierce rivalry would continue regardless of their involvement in the Scottish Cup.
Instead, Keevins believes the only realistic deterrent left for authorities to consider is a far more drastic step — the complete removal of away supporters from Old Firm fixtures.
According to that viewpoint, eliminating travelling fans would significantly reduce the risk of flashpoints inside stadiums and limit confrontations between rival supporter groups. While such a move would be controversial, supporters of the idea argue it could be the most effective way to prevent similar incidents from happening again.