Sports 4 min read
Two Rangers fans banned from every UK football ground after Old Firm disorder
Mackenzie Graham and John Smith have been handed football banning orders following the disorder that erupted after Celtic's Scottish Cup win over Rangers in March.
Two Rangers supporters have been banned from every football ground in the United Kingdom after being caught on camera during the disorder that followed Celtic's Scottish Cup victory in March. Mackenzie Graham and John Smith were identified from footage of the scenes that erupted after the Old Firm match at Hampden Park, which saw Celtic progress at Rangers' expense.
The pair appeared in court this week, where they each received a football banning order. The orders prohibit them from attending any regulated football match in the UK for a set period, effectively barring them from all domestic grounds and international fixtures involving British clubs. The court heard that both men were involved in the trouble that marred the aftermath of the cup tie, with the disorder drawing widespread condemnation from politicians, police, and football authorities.
The Scottish Cup semi-final, played at the national stadium in Glasgow, ended with Celtic advancing after a hard-fought contest. The match itself was tense, but it was the scenes after the final whistle that generated the most attention. Video footage circulated widely on social media showing clashes between rival supporters in and around the stadium, with police officers moving in to separate the groups. Several arrests were made in the immediate aftermath, and a subsequent investigation by Police Scotland reviewed hours of CCTV and mobile phone footage to identify those involved.
Graham and Smith are among the first supporters to be dealt with by the courts as a result of that investigation. Football banning orders are a standard tool used by Scottish and UK courts to tackle persistent disorder at matches. A banning order typically lasts between three and five years and requires the individual to surrender their passport when the national team or Scottish clubs play abroad, preventing them from travelling to overseas fixtures. Breaching the order is a criminal offence and can result in a prison sentence.
The disorder at the Old Firm match was widely criticised by figures across Scottish football. Both Celtic and Rangers issued statements condemning the violence, and the Scottish Professional Football League described the scenes as unacceptable. Police Scotland confirmed that a number of other individuals remain under investigation and that further reports to the procurator fiscal are expected in the coming weeks.
The case has also reignited debate about the policing and security arrangements for high-profile Old Firm fixtures. Hampden Park, as the neutral venue for the semi-final, hosted a large combined crowd, and questions have been asked about how supporters were segregated and managed after the final whistle. The Scottish Football Association has said it will review the arrangements for future matches between the two clubs, which are widely regarded as one of the most intense rivalries in European football.
For Graham and Smith, the ban means they will be unable to follow Rangers at home or away for the duration of their orders. The court's decision sends a clear signal that involvement in football-related violence will result in significant restrictions on attending matches, a stance that has been welcomed by campaigners against sectarianism and disorder in Scottish sport.
