Credit: Imago

Richie Mills

Mon 9 March 2026 8:10, UK

Tom English has expressed his dismay at the fallout from the unsavoury scenes following Rangers‘ Scottish Cup loss to Celtic.

Danny Rohl’s team suffered yet more disappointment at the hands of their bitter rivals on Sunday as they were knocked out of the competition at the quarter-final stage via a penalty shootout at Ibrox.

Rangers were unable to break down Celtic’s stubborn resistance in the goalless draw, seven days on from seeing their 2-0 lead in the Scottish Premiership wiped out by Martin O’Neill’s men.

When Celtic’s passage to the last four was assured, both sets of fans swarmed the pitch, with Police Scotland condemning the “shameful” scenes, which they say included “extreme hostility and violence”.

Hours after the match finished, BBC Sport writer English described the contest as awful, while venting his frustration against Rangers and Celtic fans on social media.

Tom English calls out ‘disgraceful’ scenes after Scottish Cup tie

For the first time in nearly a decade, Celtic were allowed to bring more than 7,000 fans to Ibrox for this huge cup clash.

There was a terrific atmosphere inside Ibrox, but the game did not live up to the hype, which was in stark contrast to their league game just a week ago.

After Tomas Cvancara scored the winning penalty for Celtic, Bhoys fans ran on the pitch, followed by some Rangers supporters.

Police and stewards then tried to restore order as projectiles flew through the air, with officers later saying some were armed with “items intended to cause harm,” and arrests were then made.

English then took to X on Sunday night to admit that for the first time, he had turned off comments on one of his posts as the vitriol was so fierce, calling it “disgraceful”.

In one of his post-match reports, he wrote how this was a game of blocks, misplaced passes, wasted free-kicks, hoofball, unending fouls, and a chronic lack of accuracy.

English also said that it was a “big, big mistake” to allow so many Celtic fans at an away Old Firm fixture, with the toxicity spilling out onto the pitch and on social media afterwards.

Aside from this, Rangers’ season is now teetering on a knife-edge.

Where do Rangers go from here?

Just over a week ago, Rangers looked set to end Celtic’s league title chances when they roared into a 2-0 lead thanks to Youssef Chermiti’s brilliant brace.

But the Gers were unrecognisable in the second half as Celtic deservedly came back to secure a vital point. Coupled with their win at Aberdeen last Wednesday, Rohl’s side are now third in the division.

They now sit one point behind their fierce adversaries and are six points behind a Hearts team that just won’t buckle, despite losing 4-2 at Ibrox last month.

Rangers’ Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic on penalties (2-4) means their only hope at silverware this season is by mounting a stellar comeback in the league.

While they have beaten Hearts and Celtic in 2026, damaging draws with the Bhoys, Motherwell, and Livingston have stung.

Questions about their mentality have sprung up in recent weeks, as Rangers try to win their first league title since 2021. And based on their inability to get over the line in their last outings, it seems another trophy may be slipping away.

Add that to the expected punishment for the actions of certain fans, it’s been a horrible past month.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.