After Celtic's 4-2 victory on penalties over Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday, large away allocations have been branded 'unsafe' by multiple entities.
At the weekend, after two hours of hard-to-watch but fiery football, Tomas Cvancara sent his penalty past Jack Butland to send Celtic to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. His penalty sent the 7,500 Hoops supporters into bedlam in the (Free) Broomloan, with some supporters entering the pitch to celebrate with their players.
Of course, while this should have never happened, Celtic fans were looking to enjoy the moment. Martin O'Neill and the players, including the much-loved Julian Araujo, were having the time of their lives and taking selfies with the encroaching supporters, but then, drama struck.
From the other end, Rangers supporters started to enter the pitch, clad in balaclavas. They proceeded to make their way across the length of the pitch, with disturbing scenes starting when one fan attacked a member of the Celtic backroom staff. We saw flares being thrown into the stands, as well as objects, and it was a disturbing watch.
Eventually, fans were pushed back into the stands by police and stewards, but what has happened in the aftermath is just as concerning as the incident itself.
Some people, like the boss of the players' union, have had their say on the matter, and we can all agree on it. They said:
"Player safety is not optional. It is not negotiable. A footballer’s workplace is the pitch. What unfolded is yet another stark reminder of the escalating risks faced by professional footballers in Scotland simply for doing their jobs.
When players are placed at risk, the consequences extend beyond football. There are serious questions raised about workplace safety standards and potential legal ramifications for clubs, governing bodies and individuals who fail to uphold their duty of care.
We welcome the Scottish FA and Police Scotland investigations, the findings of which must be made public. There must be stronger protections and accountability, with increased sanctions for individuals and clubs where player safety is compromised."
Others, such as the Police Scotland Chief Superintendent, Emma Croft, said:
"That’s where I would welcome conversations – and realistic conversations at that – as to how the footballing experience can be matched with the safety experience. I would like to think we have an input, considering the big issue is the safety of all, and policing has a big part to play in that.
I don’t think it’s right that I say that it’s a complete ban, but what I would say is that set-up is not sustainable and not safe."
Not safe, but we can do it at Hampden
It was absolutely fantastic to see a large away allocation at Ibrox at the weekend. What a sight to behold, especially since we haven't seen anything like it in years. The calls for a ban on an allocation of this number seem not only reactionary but harmful to the game.
The atmosphere for 120 minutes, plus penalties, was incredible. Both fans were cheering on their team and making sure the stadium was jumping. Of course, there is no place for the violence that happened afterwards, but that seems like a policing issue that they should have thought about.
We allow even more fans into Hampden. Two massive sets of Rangers and Celtic fans in the same ground. A 50/50 split. There are some incidents, but largely, it's policed well (or as well as it can be), and no one complains. However, when it comes to individual stadiums, it seems to be a sudden problem.
Some have pointed out that the police did not attempt to set up a proper barricade prior to Cvancara scoring his penalty. There were few police to prevent a pitch invasion, and it would appear as if there was no real attempt at all. Ignoring that, the drama started before we even got seated, with heavy-handed stewarding and policing towards fans who were simply trying to get inside the ground.
From the outside looking in, if someone who was a fan of neither club, the problem is clear. The authorities aren't doing enough to prepare for situations, and they simply can't push that blame onto supporters.
Hopefully, large away allocations will return one day, but the scenes at Ibrox likely spelt the end of them for the time being. Fingers crossed that one day, the people in charge will see sense.