UEFA ‘could ban fans’ in Rangers Europa League clash after violent incident
UEFA could ban travelling fans from attending Rangers’ Europa League last-16 clash after violent scenes this week.
Philippe Clement and his Ibrox squad will find out who they’ll be playing in their first knockout match later on Friday (21 February).
On Thursday night, Bodo/Glimt beat FC Twente and Fenerbahce beat Anderlecht, meaning Rangers will play either the Norwegians or the Turks in their last-16 fixtures on 6 March and 13 March.
However, after trouble in the stands on Thursday, there’s a chance that Rangers fans will have the whole of Ibrox to themselves
Fenerbahce away fans face UEFA ban v Rangers or Olympiakos
Fenerbahce’s Thursday night clash away at Anderlecht was paused for 15 minutes after huge trouble broke out in the stands.
Reports on social media have suggested that fights broke out in the home end after Fenerbahce fans, who were sitting in that area of Lotto Park, celebrated Youssef En-Nesyri’s fourth-minute goal.
Fenerbahce players and stewards tried to quell the incident before riot police were forced to step in.
Rangers will play either Fenerbahce or Bodo/Glimt in the next Europa League clash and if they draw Jose Mourinho’s Istanbul side, Keith Hackett claims there’s a big chance away fans will be denied access to Ibrox due to their alleged behaviour in Belgium.
“UEFA will take a very dim view that a game in their competition was delayed by 15 minutes because of acts of violence among spectators,” former FIFA and Premier League official Hackett told Ibrox News.
“The UEFA Match Delegate at the game will have photographic and video evidence to support his detailed report back to UEFA. In addition, the match officials will also submit a detailed report.
“They will examine seat allocation and how tickets might have got into the hands of both sets of supporters. At UEFA games there is usually a substantial gap between home and away fans which often means that seats are not sold and covered. There is then a row of stewards in seats to create a human barrier between both sets of fans.
“15-minute delays also put huge pressure on broadcasters.“
UEFA set for talks with Rangers
Hackett added: “With the reports and evidence to hand UEFA will hold a disciplinary meeting.
“In the past they have banned away supporters from their teams’ games.
“I recall refereeing Real Madrid in Valencia because they were serving a stadium ban and their home game was allocated to another stadium in Spain.
| Match | Score |
| Malmo v Rangers | 0-2 |
| Rangers v Lyon | 1-4 |
| Rangers v FCSB | 4-0 |
| Olympiakos v Rangers | 1-1 |
| OGC Nice v Rangers | 1-4 |
| Rangers v Tottenham | 1-1 |
| Manchester United v Rangers | 2-1 |
| Rangers v Union SG | 2-1 |
“I also experienced in a UEFA game being taken to Athens airport because there were concerns about the safety of the Dutch team so the Greece v Holland game the following day was played in Rhodes with less than 3,000 spectators allocated tickets.
“There is a strong possibility that the Rangers Europa League game will go ahead without away team spectators if they draw Fenerbahce.
“I have no doubt that the Rangers administration will be made fully aware so that appropriate security arrangements for when the game is played are made.”
Rangers or Olympiakos will face either Fenerbahce or Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League last-16 in March.